--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Obstructions on the way to enlightenment…" description: "\"Obstructions on the way to enlightenment, are you kidding? Hey, they crucify people here. You think this is an easy place?\" — Frederick Lenz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_obstructions-on-the-way-to-enlightenment_3195393.jpg" --- # Obstructions on the way to enlightenment, are you kidding?… ![“Obstructions on the way to enlightenment, are you kidding? Hey, they crucify people here. You think this is an easy place?” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_obstructions-on-the-way-to-enlightenment_3195393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_obstructions-on-the-way-to-enlightenment_3195393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/764/frederick-lenz-8_buddhism_obstructions-on-the-way-to-enlightenment_3195393.jpg) > “Obstructions on the way to enlightenment, are you kidding? Hey, they crucify people here. You think this is an easy place?” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obstacles on the spiritual path are often self‑imposed; confronting them requires courage and humor. **In simple terms:** Spiritual growth faces self‑created obstacles. Key Takeaway Face challenges with humor and resolve. Themes spirituality growth resilience Mood introspective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation practice - personal therapy - creative pursuits - life transitions Key Concepts self‑limiting beliefs inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - What inner obstacles hinder your growth? - How can humor help you overcome them? A Different Perspective Denial of difficulty can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Experience is a great teacher. You will have to go through the trials and tribulations and the ecstasies and abandoned moments of wonderfulness that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/experience-is-a-great-teacher-you-will-have-to-go-through-the-trials/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“As the modern critic David Quint has summed it up, Montaigne would probably interpret the message for humanity in Christ’s crucifixion as being “Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bakewell/as-the-modern-critic-david-quint-has-summed-it-up-montaigne-would/) [Sarah Bakewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bakewell/) > [To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-enjoy-good-health-to-bring-true-happiness-to-one-s-family-to-bring/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truly, he thought, the way of enlightenment is like unto half a mile of broken glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/truly-he-thought-the-way-of-enlightenment-is-like-unto-half-a-mile-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is no distinction between means and ends. There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. There is no way to enlightenment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/there-is-no-distinction-between-means-and-ends-there-is-no-way-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [Meditation is not a way to enlightenment, Nor is it a method of achieving anything at all. It is peace itself. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/meditation-is-not-a-way-to-enlightenment-nor-is-it-a-method-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way. There is no way to enlightenment; enlightenment is the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/there-is-no-way-to-happiness-happiness-is-the-way-there-is-no-way-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [There is obstruction. Enlightenment is not very popular in this world. History tells us that enlightened teachers who made themselves largely available to human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-obstruction-enlightenment-is-not-very-popular-in-this-world/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Even to the sage who's doing Sahaja Samadhi, the great guru, I'd say: "Hey buddy, you know, I like the robes and everything, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/even-to-the-sage-who-s-doing-sahaja-samadhi-the-great-guru-i-d-say/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Do you think it will be that easy, Corp?” “As easy as it can be to lug a nuclear bomb down a giant-sized worm-hole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-george-richards/do-you-think-it-will-be-that-easy-corp-as-easy-as-it-can-be-to-lug-a/) David George Richards > [“Let no one think it is an easy way because it is concerned with moments of happiness rather than with stern duty or high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/let-no-one-think-it-is-an-easy-way-because-it-is-concerned-with/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [I think it's so easy to be judgmental of other people's decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-think-it-s-so-easy-to-be-judgmental-of-other-people-s-decisions/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [I think I am more easy-going off the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/i-think-i-am-more-easy-going-off-the-court/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [The perception is that I've always made winning look easy. People think it's easy, but they don't see what's behind it, the time away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cavendish/the-perception-is-that-i-ve-always-made-winning-look-easy-people/) [Mark Cavendish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cavendish/) > [I think it's very easy to get discouraged early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-get-discouraged-early-on/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. 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Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. 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I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. 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After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Obstructions on the way to enlightenment, are you kidding? Hey, they crucify people here. 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