The parallel of the mountain is a classic Chinese cultural metaphor that connotes the way a cultivator takes: a steep, difficult path that leads to a high peak. Cultivators of Falun Gong often refer to the paradox of climbing a mountain with nowhere to go but up in the context of practising cultivation. To reach their highest potential, cultivators must meet higher and higher standards and constantly acknowledge their own shortcomings, while guarding against slipping back into old ways or falling into complacency.