Question: I think that I am on the road to enlightenment, but my thoughts would lead me to believe that only the holiest of holies could ever reach that state, and it is not readily achievable to a parent having to work and raise a family. How do I recognize my progress?

Answer: While it is true the awakened life that attends self-realization may not be for the masses, nothing about this truth precludes the possibility of a good householder establishing a relationship with God/Truth. Anyone who would have you believe that a good, innocent, and holy life is beyond your reach is himself out of touch with reality. Life places each and every one of us in precisely the conditions we need to learn the lessons required for our awakening. Covet no one else’s life. Work to uncover the truth that awaits you within your own. And as far as how to recognize your progress is concerned, don’t look for growth. When we actually do change our nature, one of the first changes in us is that we are freed from thinking about ourselves at all in terms of being “better” or “worse.”