The Buddha famously proclaimed the Middle Way. Having attempted to live his life enjoying all possible pleasures, and then having tried to reach enlightenment by subjecting himself to all possible deprivations, he discovered that a middle path based neither on ascetism nor hedonism was the correct path for us to follow.

Or is it?

Subsequent Buddhist interpreters have offered an alternative idea. Many of us hold tenaciously to the notion that our concepts, views and beliefs can be modified by our Step 10, 11 and 12 experiences until we light upon the correct ones. Not so, say these later interpreters. No belief can save us; there is no "correct" view that guarantees our salvation. Instead, the Middle Way speaks to our supposed "progress" from one insight to another ... only to discover that our new way of thinking is no more effective than its predecessor in terms of arriving at our destination.

Slowly we come to see that there is no destination. The path of enlightenment is just that -- a path; and our practice of Ten, Eleven and Twelve just a practice. Our spiritual awakening is not a goal, but a by-product of this ceaseless journey.