Here is a picture showing the Spiritual Progress through the period of sādhana.
The spiritual aspirant first tries to lead a noble life. He is convinced about leading an unselfish life. Even though he does not have a conceptual background, he values morality, kindness, and discipline. He tries to read various self-help books and religious books. He seeks a purpose for life. He tries to be truthful as much as possible. He gives in charity. He helps others. He follows discipline in life. He learns meditation, etc. from various sources available to him and tries to follow them. He slowly develops a thirst for serious guidance.
This leads him to a teacher. He learns the scriptures. He understands the concepts of Jiva, Jagat, and Ishvara. He is slowly convinced about his nature as not the body or mind. He shifts his identity as the Jiva. This creates a big change in his worldview. He able to lead a life of purpose, honesty, kindness, and discipline with a lot more conviction and effectiveness.
He is also introduced to the idea of his identity as beyond even as the Jiva, as Pure Consciousness. This is an idea that goes over his head. He is not able to relate to it. Still, he has faith in the teacher and scriptures. He continues to listen. Even though he knows theoretically what the scriptures are trying to say, the true meaning of the word “Consciousness” still eludes him. He has a lot of questions. He asks them or the teacher and scripture themselves raises the questions. They are all answered by strong logic by the teacher and scriptures. He continues to do his sadhana as advised by the teacher.
Suddenly one day, there is an “Āhā” moment and everything makes sense. He now understands the true meaning of the word “Consciousness”. Everything that he had been reading without really understanding so far suddenly makes sense. He is able to validate the words of the scriptures. So far, his response to these words was “Ok. Maybe possible.” Now his response to these words is “Yes. I know it is true.” The words of the scriptures are no longer new knowledge. They are just validating what he intuitively knows already. Earlier they were information. Now they are restatement of what he already knows.
From now starts a new phase in spiritual life. He continues his sādhana as before. There is nothing for him to attain. He knows that he has been free all through. Sādhana is just to train the mind to align to the knowledge. Sādhana picks up a new speed. Changes happen fast. Still the mind slips into desire and despondency occasionally. However, he takes it sportively, because he knows that he is free irrespective of the state of the mind. Slowly the mind aligns with the knowledge.
Then there comes a stage where the mind is almost stable. Whatever happens in life, the mind is free from rāga (desire) and dvesha (hatred). This is the final state of jivanmukti. Rest of the life till the body drops is just unalloyed bliss. Life has its usual ups and downs. The body has its states of health and disease. But the mind is unaffected by them. The person continues to do sādhana as before out of gratitude to the teacher, scripture, and Ishvara, and also as a role model to others.
This is the spiritual journey. Where are you in this?