After one lecture, a timid young woman told Turiyananda that she could not understand how the soul could be God and the world unreal. “It took me many years to realize this,” replied the swami, “but once it is realized the work is done.” Then the lady began to speak in praise of Christianity as being so much easier to grasp. “Yes,” the swami admitted, “Vedanta is not an easy, comfortable religion. Truth is never cheap. So long as we are satisfied with glass beads we don’t search for diamonds. It is hard work to delve into the earth, remove the stones and rocks, and go to great depths to find the precious stone. Vedanta is the jewel among religions.”