Integrity

The overwhelming number of people who latch on to religion do so as if it is something that they can acquire, much like anything else they own. Often born into a religious identity, at best they might shop around for a while, looking for something that suits their taste, but sooner or later they will simply buy into a system that fits fairly well, for better or worse. And they will walk around for the rest of their lives in these getups. Furthermore, they band into groups whose purpose is to admire one another's outfits. Then they try and sell their disguises. But once things become commercialized there is not much hope for them. They have become self-satisfied, sanctimonious icons of perfection.

Genuine spirituality is not something that can be so acquired. Your true self can only be discovered by stripping off these clothes. And no matter how much your intuition or emotions scream at you in reaction to being told that they are standing in the way of this process, they must be laid aside along with your rationalisms in order to open yourself to the presence of God.

Humility consists in simply being the person you actually are before God. There are no quick victories when it comes to being your true, unmasked self. Hurry ruins the contemplative life and dishonours God.