Sometimes the spiritual life is compared to a battle. If that analogy holds true, then what would be the greatest victory?

Ans : Long ago it was asked: "What is the real victory? Is it that of great emperor leading his vast, invincible armies and defeating an opposing army?" The answer came that, no, it is the conquest, not of territory, but of oneself that is the greatest victory. There is nothing more essential, more absolutely indispensable, to be overcome and defeated than the ego. It is the greatest bondage. It is the greatest enemy standing in the way of all that is good for you. Victory in this great battle leads to the greatest liberation: "Then shall I be free, when 'I' shall cease to be." Therefore to give a semblance of reality to the ego is the greatest ignorance, and to be in a state of identification with the ego is the greatest affliction-from which all creation is suffering and due to which all creation is causing suffering to everyone else.

This is a mystical, metaphysical fact. All discord, all disharmony is rooted in the great blunder of giving importance to that which is the greatest enemy. We make ourselves slaves by allowing the ego to dominate our life. You cannot walk in two directions at the same time. The entire world is suffering and weeping due to the tyranny of the ego over the human individual in the living of his life from day to day. If this is recognised, already light has dawned and the bonds are starting to fall apart. You are moving towards emancipation and liberation; you are moving towards sure victory.

And, you are moving toward jyoti (light). ("Lead me from darkness to Light.") You are now nearing the wondrous time when this gift will be yours and you will no longer slumber, you will no longer be in ignorance. This is the truth! Once, twice and thrice, this is the truth! You have the golden key. Blessed is he who having received the golden key will insert the key in the lock, open it and go out into the freedom that is everywhere at all time. This will indeed be the greatest step, the greatest moment in the spiritual life and the greatest victory!