n order to move forward on the path towards any goal, it is essential to know where we are in the present moment. For example, a person driving in a new city requires a map. The map represents different routes the driver can take to reach their final destination. However, the path, which is most efficient for them depends on where they are relative to the map. This map is useless for the driver if he or she doesn't know where his or her starting point is. Similarly, God Knowledge combined with the awareness of our weaknesses is the starting point on our path towards God-Realization. Therefore, it is very important to know our strengths and weaknesses, and to be aware of our thoughts and actions. Otherwise, we will remain ignorant of ourselves and our egos will blind us of our own faults.

Spirituality is our guide: a map that will help us reach our goal. In other words, constantly feeling the presence of God around us, within us and others, will eventually lead us to the ideal life of a true saint in complete bliss. We can equally say that God Knowledge complemented with the True Master's teachings are our guide. Spirituality is the term used once we (our spirits) become aware of God, the True Master's teachings and try to remain connected with them.

One of the best ways to know where we are on our spiritual journey is to analyze our own daily behavior and actions. For instance, take the situation of a sick patient who goes to see a doctor. One of the first questions that the doctor might ask the patient about is their symptoms. After the doctor analyses those symptoms, he or she can tell the patient what the problem is. Finally, the doctor prescribes a treatment for their illness. Similarly, our symptoms can be observed in our practical lives as well. These symptoms may include unnecessary sadness, constant worrying, becoming overly anxious, etc. True saints do not feel such emotions, because they are always calm and content. If we do notice such symptoms in our lives, then it confirms that we are still far from our goal of attaining complete bliss (true happiness) and receiving the title of a "true saint". During a spiritual discussion in Toronto last year, one saint affirmed that, "If a person is sad or constantly worried about something, then he or she is not a true saint."

Most of us tend to think that our problems are outside us, so we blame various people or circumstances for them. However, the main problems usually lie within us, in our own minds. Our weaknesses and impurities prevent us from acting like true saints, however this shouldn't stop us from trying to overcome them with consistent efforts. We must do our best without constantly focusing on the end results. These results should be left to God. This may be very hard to do since we expect results for all our efforts. We should therefore pray to God and beg for His grace to help us focus on the spiritual practices outlined by our True Master. It is only by God's grace that our weaknesses and impurities can be eliminated. Without His grace, regardless of how hard we try, we can never become true saints.

Personally, when I question myself to see where I stand on this path of spirituality, I have learned the following: I understand theoretically that I should have complete faith in God; I know what is right and wrong; I know what these two opposite paths can lead to. Despite this, there are still times when I make the wrong choice and end up following the wrong path. I feel during these times that there is something pulling me in the opposite direction. This negative power, which deters me from following what our True Master says, is my own ego, one of many impurities of the mind which are so subtle and strong that they seem uncontrollable at times. Sometimes I feel like I am in a nightmare where something horrible is chasing me and I can't run away from it. I feel like I am physically stuck somewhere and I can't move an inch. I realize that in my real life that there is nothing physical preventing me from following the right path, but rather something "invisible" and abstract. I understand that in these situations, I should leave everything to God and believe that everything is happening within His will and surely for the best. Even still, I find it hard to let go of everything. It's like I am holding onto something tightly in my fist and want to let go, but I feel helpless to unfold my fingers.

Again, this force preventing me from letting go and surrendering completely to God is my own ego. I thank God for helping me to be more aware of myself and to know where I stand.