The distinction between the Two Paths can be fraught with difficulty. In part this is due to how poorly defined these terms are within common usage, even amongst those who often employ the terms "Left Hand Path" and "Right Hand Path." As P. D. Ouspensky noted, people tend to interpret new ideas as if they already knew them and proceed to use them despite not really taking the time to understand. It is my hope that this discussion will open up greater understanding for those willing to pursuit it, and a better quality of confusion for those who do not.
My discussion of the Paths will not begin, for a change, with etymology, philology, or conceptual genealogy. Rather I will outline two clear definitions of the Right and Left Hand Paths and then provide a short narrative demonstrating one of the fundamental human experiences from which these approaches emerge.
Both Paths are distinct from the default mode of humanity in that they must be pursued. One cannot be accidentally upon either the Left or Right Hand Paths, but must dedicate a good deal of effort. Both approaches will provide a means of transformation for the individual who pursues them which would not occur without effort of will and discernment. It is the means by which the Paths seek to transform the individual, and the end results, which provide the distinction.
