PATH TO ILLUMINATION

The truth is considered secret knowledge because not everyone is ready for it.  In order to be ready for it, you must undergo certain preparations.   

You learn first of all to discriminate between the eternal and the non-eternal.  You discover, with this, that God alone is real. 
 
Then you must learn to yearn for God rather than to yearn for the enjoyments of the world, that is, specifically, for the enjoyment of the fruits of your actions.  The fruits of your actions are transient, whereas God is abiding. 
 
Then you are to act with the “six treasures” in mind.

The first of the six treasures is tranquility.  This comes when you detach your mind from all objective things by continually seeing their imperfection.  This allows you to focus fully on God. 
 
The second treasure is self-control.  You detach yourself from both kinds of sense organs, those of perception and those of action.  The result is a mental poise that tempers the intensity of external stimuli.
 
Third is forbearance, which is to endure every affliction without rebellion, complaint, or lament.

Fourth is faith.  Faith is trusting in the scriptures, as they are based on experience and not just on speculation and theory.
 
Fifth is self-surrender whereby God, not you, remains foremost in your mind. 
   
Sixth is longing for liberation which is the will to be free from fetters created by ignorance, i.e. by wrong thinking.  Even a little of this longing will grow in intensity over time. 
 
Lastly is the need for devotion, commitment.  Devotion is a constant recollectedness of God.

With these preparations, illumination will come to you.