I have said to my Buddhist friends I want to be able to walk through heaven and hell with a clear mind. Heaven and hell representing my reactions to what I like and dislike. I haven't gotten to that place yet but after years of practice how I react to sense data has gone from knee jerk reactions when I first started to backing off and taking some time before I take action.

The writings are taken from a monks point of view. What is missing is the teachings of Buddha to laypeople. That is why I like Mahayana Buddhism, it teaches the Bodhisattva path and has many teachings for the layperson. I was lucky to have found a Theravada vipassana meditation teacher SN Goenka who taught lay people the path of freedom through wisdom and insight. @builderofcastles you do speak of true freedom. thank you <3