The biggest misconception in spirituality is the idea of “the journey.” Almost everyone buys into it in one way or another. I’ve spent plenty of time in my life talking about my spiritual journey—how I went from where I was to where I am now. But honestly, it’s all an illusion. A big lie.
There’s a story in the Christian scriptures where a rich guy asks Jesus what he needs to do to follow him. Jesus tells him to give all his possessions to the poor, and the guy walks away. He just couldn’t give up what mattered most to him. For a lot of us, it’s not material possessions we can’t let go of—it’s the so-called spiritual journey itself. I could sit here and say the whole “journey” thing is a waste of time, and many people would just ignore me. They’re too attached to the idea to let it go.
Think about it: the concept of a “spiritual journey” is what keeps the whole religious and spiritual industry alive. If people realized there’s no need for a journey, billions of dollars would vanish overnight. Teachers, preachers, authors, and gurus would be out of work. Bookstores would lose entire sections. Religious TV shows, self-help seminars, and revival events would have no audiences. If people truly accepted this, all the “seeking” would stop in an instant.
Now, don’t worry—I’m not trying to dismantle an entire industry or put people out of work. Besides, most people wouldn’t believe me anyway. I didn’t get it for most of my own spiritual life, and even if I had, I doubt it would’ve mattered much. I loved my spiritual journey. It felt like such a big part of who I was.
But here’s the truth: the spiritual life isn’t about getting anything or becoming anything. It’s not about perfecting yourself, purifying yourself, or improving. Sure, a lot of spiritual teachings focus on those things, but none of it really matters—and spiritually speaking, it’s not even possible. You can’t “get” more spirituality or “become more spiritual.” Spirit is infinite. You can’t add to infinity.
The spiritual journey is just an illusion. It’s about realizing what you already are and what you already have. The feeling that something’s happening or that you’re gaining something? It’s like pulling back curtains to “let in” more sunlight. The sunlight was already there—it just wasn’t visible because the curtains were in the way. For us, Spirit (or God, if you prefer) is already fully present. When the “curtains” of ignorance or unawareness are removed, we can finally see it. Nothing’s actually happening—it just feels like it is.
I’m not saying you should ditch your spiritual practice entirely. Life has a way of pulling us back into autopilot, and sometimes we need something that feels like a practice or journey to keep us aware. But remember: no matter what you think is happening, you’re not going anywhere, and you’re not gaining anything. The fullness of Spirit is already with you, always. You can’t lose it. You can’t be without it. Keeping that in mind—that’s the real spiritual practice.