Just back from retreat at the new Soma Retreat Center in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
It’s tempting to think that the spiritual path is a linear journey. What a surprise when you see your old neurotic patterns re-surfacing again, just like an old dysfunctional relationship you thought you had outgrown. Sometimes it can be painful to look in the mirror and not see growth.
Chogyam Trungpa puts it nicely:
“There is a problem in thinking that you are supposed to be advancing in your practice all the time. You don’t have to constantly be on the road. If you have a flat tire, that is also part of the journey. Ambition makes you feel that you are not doing anything. There seems to be a hypnotic quality to ambition and speed, so that you feel that you are standing still just because you want to go so fast. You might actually be getting close to your goal.
Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Diary of a Pilgrim 
Ahh, this so true Kim. We tend to want to see “results” and have breakthroughs. But it’s just the mind and its desire to grok what it cannot.
Even great breakthroughs are like a good wine, much better when matured.
Thanks for posting this!