As I worked on the roof, my mind went into meditative or reflective mode. If I were to tell someone my goal in life is attaining to state of enlightenment, they likely will think me most presumptuous. Why should that bother me, what they think.

I had been thinking, saints must feel ordinary, it is we who elevate them. Do they know they are holy?  I saw part of enlightenment means they are more elevated above self. Less attached to self, they are freer hence holier. They are less likely to be afflicted by feelings of anger, jealousy, vengeance etc.

Self is indeed the root of all problem because if there is no self, it would not matter to me what others think of me. Buddhism knows that and teaches on detachment on self, stressing impermanence of things.

I found myself thinking, extreme conditions in life could speed us to enlightenment. For instance, a man struck with ALS said he would not exchange it for what he had before he got afflicted by ALS. The disease made him a different person. I have a fear of ALS but I understand what he means.