The goal of this work (inner peace, enlightenment, spiritual integrity, excellence) is actually our natural state and is already there, in situ, deep beneath all the shit we've layered on top of it. So, the work is peeling back those layers and casting them off, one by one, once and for all. And this is what's difficult, this sacrificial aspect, because our stupid selfish culture tells us that we are entitled to a little of everything; that we, as free individuals, express best our individual sovereignty by picking and choosing. When it comes to spiritual work nothing could be further from the truth.