Religion is a journey of the self as it travels into the innermost depth of its entire being in search of the truth and the good. The murkiest waters have to be crossed before the clear stream could be arrived at;
every part of the journey is filled with uncertainty; the utmost patience is called for; humility must guide the way; faith has to be steadfast; sacrifices have to be made; the non-essentials of living have to be set aside; there must exist that abiding flame of hope;  the love of a higher consciousness must pervade from start to end and the self must die in the process to be reborn.

Then, if the journey has been well-travelled,  the light of understanding would flicker from the darkness of the past and the self would rise from the ashes of doubt and hopelessness and have the first taste of untainted joy and pure bliss. All impediments to the self's fullest understanding and complete freedom would be removed--the veil has been lifted and the self has become part of the Universal Oneness that unites all life.