Whenever we do any work on ourselves, or engage in any way in the inner journey, we are invariably working with our soul. -  A.H. Almaas

Mostly the path leading us to make the decision to “work” on ourselves is littered with frustration, heartbreak and suffering. Many will say the motivation lies in more altruistic spheres, but observation will show that happy, content minds and personalities are not that motivated to change. What the personality wants is to maximize pleasure while minimizing its involvement with pain or suffering.

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The soul is a curious manifestation of reality. Being its nature is what satisfies the soul. Joy is intrinsic to the soul’s experience of True Nature – it’s nature.

A.H. Almaas’ quote reflects his understanding that there is really no separation between the psychological and spiritual dimensions of personal development. The soul is the medium of consciousness itself – the mind, the body, the personality, the emotions – all aspects of experience occur within the medium of the soul. There is no other medium of experience. Fundamentally, that is what the soul is.