Spirituality as the Ultimate Endurance Sport

“We rush our pleas above, knock by knock, tirelessly, endlessly, and do not weaken at all when He does not answer us. We believe He hears our prayer but waits for a time when we have the Kelim [vessels] to receive the faithful bounty, and then we will receive a reply to each and every prayer at once, since ‘the hand of the Lord will not be short,’ God forbid.”
— Rav Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam), Letter №34

Life is propelled by an insatiable, ever-evolving desire — a force that shapes our existence, morphing through countless forms. At first, we chase the primal urges: food, intimacy, family. Then come the social cravings: wealth, power, respect, knowledge. These desires, like fleeting garments, clothe our deeper yearning for personal fulfillment. But for some, a new aspiration awakens — a quiet, persistent question about the meaning and purpose of life, a longing to understand our place in the vast tapestry of reality.

This awakening marks the beginning of a spiritual journey, a path toward our true human purpose: to align our qualities with the single, benevolent force that creates and governs all existence. For many, this yearning emerges from the ashes of disillusionment — when material pleasures, once so alluring, turn hollow, and life’s promises of satisfaction crumble. The discovery of an authentic method to guide this journey sparks a surge of excitement, a renewed vigor to uncover the hidden reality beyond the veils of this world, an existence unbound by time and space.

The Sprint That Becomes a Marathon

In its infancy, spiritual development feels like a sprint. Armed with the right method and a supportive community, we charge toward the goal of perceiving the divine, expecting to unveil the single source of life in mere moments. But soon, the path reveals its true nature. To become like the governing force of reality — to embody its selfless, unconditional love — requires a complete surrender of the ego. We must abandon all self-serving ambitions, all subjective calculations, and devote ourselves entirely to the service of others. For many, this realization is a shock. The spiritual path is not a quick ascent to enlightenment but a grueling marathon, demanding a transformation that defies our very nature.

Some turn back, retreating to the familiar comforts of material life or seeking softer “spiritual” teachings that cater to their desires. Only a few remain — those whose burning need to fulfill their human purpose outweighs the allure of escape. These are the stubborn, the resolute, who find no satisfaction in worldly pleasures despite having everything they need. For them, the initial spark of spiritual excitement hardens into a relentless commitment, a refusal to abandon the path even when it feels impossible.

The Endurance Sport of the Soul

Spiritual development is the most arduous endurance sport imaginable. It is a ceaseless battle against the instinctive ego, which fights tooth and nail to preserve its dominion. The ego thrives on self-interest, on subjective gain, and the spiritual goal — pure, selfless love and service to others — offers it nothing. To achieve similarity with the divine force is to dismantle the ego entirely, a prospect it perceives as death.

Crossing the boundary from material existence, rooted in self-absorption, to spiritual existence, lived solely for others, is a supernatural feat. One cannot exist in spirituality without becoming a conduit for love and bestowal, a transparent pipeline through which the life-giving force of reality flows to others. This transformation is not solitary; it demands a unique, tightly knit community of like-minded souls, mutually devoted to each other’s progress. Together, they endure the unrelenting resistance of their egos, which grow fiercer as the journey deepens.

The path feels like climbing an endless mountain against gale-force winds. Progress is slow, often imperceptible, and setbacks are frequent. Paradoxically, the very difficulty of the journey is the surest sign of its authenticity. The ego’s resistance proves the group is on the right track, pushing against the barriers that separate them from the divine.

The Power of Collective Resilience

As the struggle intensifies, even the group’s mutual support can falter. The ego’s opposition becomes overwhelming, and doubts creep in. It is here that the community turns to the single governing force, pleading for strength to overcome their collective selfishness. Though they may not yet sense this force directly, they persist, bowing their heads and continuing the work. Like mountaineers roped together or an elite commando unit, they carry each other through moments of despair. When one falters, the others lift them up, injecting hope and confidence to keep moving forward.

This process is deliberate, a “game of attrition” designed to exhaust the ego. The group’s prayers and efforts seem unanswered, yet they press on, trusting that the divine force hears them, waiting for the moment when their vessels are ready to receive its bounty. The ego fights desperately, clinging to the hope of spiritual rewards, but as the group endures, it begins to weaken. Only when the ego fully surrenders — when it realizes it will gain nothing from this path — does the gateway to spirituality open. Like the eye of a needle, it allows only the pure, selfless spark of human aspiration to pass through, stripped of all egoistic residue.

The Dawn of Connection

At this breaking point, the truth becomes clear: the divine force was present all along, guiding the process from behind the scenes. Every prayer, every struggle, was heard and answered, quietly shaping the group’s transformation. This marks the beginning of a tangible, reciprocal connection with the single source of life — a partnership in the creation and nurturing of existence. From here, the journey continues, not as a blind struggle but as a conscious, methodical correction of the ego’s remnants. The group harnesses the ego’s immense power, redirecting it toward selfless love and bestowal, becoming pure conduits for the divine force.

This is the essence of spirituality: not a fleeting moment of ecstasy, but an enduring commitment to transcend the self for the sake of others. It is a path of relentless effort, collective resilience, and unshakable faith. For those who persevere, the reward is not personal gain but the privilege of serving as transparent connectors, channeling the life-giving force of reality to the world.

In the end, spirituality is not a race to be won but a marathon to be endured — a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to rise above its nature and align with the eternal.