The articulation of the ultimate reward is a hurdle for the spread of Buddhism, as the human mind is conditioned to seek what is pleasurable and enjoyable in our daily existence. The rewards of "heaven" are easily grasped by people: a happy place in the sky where we see family and friends again, sit at the side of God, and have peace and contentment. Comforting myths are an easy sell.

But striving towards enlightenment? The discipline and self-restraint of the path will be rewarded by the self being "extinguished?" The ultimate reward is hard to express in language and hard to appreciate when our existence is so tied to our material world. Alas, will true Buddhism always be an "elitist" path?