I know this was posted sometime back but i would like to quote a few paragraphs from Franz Bardon Initiation into Hermetics contained in the Epilogue which I think could be useful ''Evidently the benefits of perception will never come overnight;they have to be acquired in very hard labor and with many difficulties and obstructions.A great number of people if not most of them,will prefer to become convinced first of the truth of the rules to have faith,and only then will they make up their minds to enter the path of initiation.The honest magician will realise that this attitude of Man is the wrong one.He is convinced that one has to trained and educated for the faith by the initiation.By the mere reading of this work one can of course achieve an intellectual knowledge,but not wisdom.Knowledge can be gained by transference,but wisdom must be acquired by experience and recognition,the latter depending on the spiritual maturity of the individual.And this maturity again is determined by the spiritual development that is formed on the path to initiation."....................
"But before entering this path,everyone should ask himself whether he will regard true initiation practically as his religion,i.e,his life task which his intent on fulfilling in spite of whatever hindrances and difficulties may be put in his way,and whether he will try hard to pursue and never to run away from this path as soon as he has entered it.It has to be taken for granted that an enormous ,almost superhuman amount of endurance and patience,a tenacious will power and secrecy regarding his progress are fundamental conditions."
