Direct realization versus love and devotion for God with form—are these two paths mutually exclusive? David Newman (Durga Das) tells of an unexpected inner journey that led him to ask himself: Was I leaving my devotional path behind, or was the pursuit of a conclusive spiritual awakening the very revelation that the path itself had indicated? David's journey started with what he calls a “lightning bolt”, which led him to question his own identity. With heart-warming honesty, he relates how the integration of the two paths came about through unwavering grace. “What I was initially most afraid of ultimately brought the greatest gift”.