The Buddha characterized this path as being counter-instinctual to human beings: the natural human instinct is to resist, avoid, or meet with aversion all things that are unpleasant, and to grasp at, hold on to, and crave all things that are pleasurable.

He explained that his experience along the whole spiritual path was one that went "against the stream" of ordinary human consciousness.

The Buddha felt that the masses would never be willing to practice that kind of renunciation, mindfulness, concentration, and morality that it takes to become free, but after deep consideration decided that he must offer the path to freedom to all who cared to follow it.