Here is an interesting story about how we can get lost:

This story happened in ancient India where there were a lot of spiritual people. These people were so engrossed in spiritual cultivation that they would do whatever it took to find a good master who could teach them. They would then follow the master for a long time just to learn how to cultivate and purify themselves well.

One day, a good cultivator who had cultivated himself very well for many years decided to leave the master and cultivate alone at the same time he could share his understanding about the Truth with people. So he went to ask his master for his permission to leave and assured his master that he would continue his cultivation diligently.

The master was pleased to hear that but he advised and reminded this disciple,