Steps...

Every man's path is for himself; let him accomplish his own desires that he may
thus be able to rise above them to the eternal goal.

Bowl of Saki, May 27, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

The sages have said, 'Rise above the earthly motives. Accomplish all you wish to
accomplish in life, whatever be the motive, and then that itself will lead you
to a stage from which you can rise above them, and above the earthly desires of
the body'. They have never said, 'Stop, and go into the jungle, and see life
from our point of view'. Everybody's path is for himself. Let everyone achieve
the fulfillment of his own desires so as to be able to rise above them to the
eternal goal.

All our experiences are nothing but preparation for something else. Nothing that
belongs to this world, however precious, must hinder one's path of progress. For
every step in the direction to that spiritual gain must be the aim of every
soul. ... Every belief and every experience for a wise person is a step of a
staircase. He has taken this step, there is another step for him to take. The
steps of the staircase are not made for one to stand there. They are just made
for one to pass, to go further. Because life is progress. Where there is no
progress there is no life.