You think you are somebody and that is where the problem begins. You're really not somebody, you're everybody. You objectify yourself into thinking that you are a particular state of being.

It is necessary to bring our life in order, to examine each thing, and ask ourselves if it is bringing power into our life or if it is draining us. Ask yourself, is your life taking power from you or adding power to you?

In lower levels things are dark, gray, experiences are shallow. You become alienated from those around you.

In Buddhism we don't really believe in sin and salvation as Westerners would define them. We believe in the limitless possibilities of the present and of future moments.

If someone else runs faster than you or makes more money than you or is more adept at anything, that doesn't mean you have lost. You are measuring yourself only against yourself and your tendencies not to do all that you are capable of doing.

As Buddha points out, you should not rely on the opinions of others for validation of your internal progression.

Reincarnation is not necessarily linear. Sometimes people actually become more immersed in darkness or illusion than they were in previous lifetimes.