Gaurav Soni
October 05, 2023 02:20
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Learn how venturing off the beaten path can lead to self-knowledge, new perspectives, and positive change.
Q3: Not all who wander are lost.
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“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” – Henry David Thoreau
Gautam Buddha was born into a wealthy family in ancient India. Despite his privileged upbringing, he was deeply troubled by the suffering and injustice he saw in the world around him. At the age of 29, he renounced his wealth and set out on a spiritual journey in search of enlightenment. For six years, Gautam Buddha wandered through the forests and villages of India, seeking guidance from various spiritual teachers and practicing extreme forms of self-discipline. His wandering was yielded in identifying self and analysing reasons of sorrow for others. Buddha wandered to answer questions. but with these answers, he didn’t lost or remain isolated for human society, instead, he guided humanity to achieve the desired, and happy ethical life . Not all who wander are lost!
Another story about two planes. One plane flew directly into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. It had hit its target and was not lost in the literal sense but metaphorically, it could not have been more lost. Another plane was being flown by Amelia Earhart, who wanted to circumnavigate the globe and inspire future generations of female pilots. Her plane along with her was lost, never to be found again. However, the legacy she left behind ensured her courage and was never lost in the minds and hearts of the people.
We often see life as a journey to an end that we can reach by following the conventional paths set by the generations before us. However, often we come across people and situations that challenge this notion of ours. They often send us down the unconventional path by taking us out of our comfort zone and we see miracles happening. These people might seem lost in conventional social terms, but when seen in the frame of a larger picture, they are often making new and different paths for others to follow.
Wandering is often associated with a lack of direction or purpose. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, wandering can be a deliberate choice, a way to explore new places, ideas, and experiences without a specific goal in mind. It can be a way to break free from routine and monotony and to discover new passions and interests.
What inspires people to take unconventional paths?
Often it is the quest to find the true meaning of life that inspires people to move out of their comfort zones. Buddha was born a prince destined to be king, surrounded by all the luxuries and pleasantries of life. However, the curiosity within him could not be satisfied by any of that and he began a long journey to understand the purpose of life. He had to lose himself to find the ultimate truth. When that truth came to him, he made that journey easier for all those who earlier thought they were on the right path but were in fact, lost.
Wandering can also be a form of self-discovery. By exploring different paths and experiences, we can learn more about ourselves and what we truly value. It can help us to clarify our goals and aspirations and to find our place in the world. Like Vivekananda wandered for self-discovery and then realized the importance of compassion, it led to the formation of the ideology of Dridanarayana to make people happy and remove sorrow.
In addition, wandering can be a source of inspiration and creativity. By exposing ourselves to new environments and ideas, we can broaden our perspectives and develop new insights and perspectives. Take the example of se voyages of Vasco D Gama, whose wondering created new routes toward the Indian continent and inspired the Western countries to open trade corridor .
Sometimes, people are forced to change their paths due to situations or circumstances beyond their control. At that point individuals who embrace the uncertainty and take risks are often the ones who make groundbreaking discoveries, whether in science, art, or other fields. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani education activist, survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban and continued her advocacy for girls’ education. Malala aimed to ensure that every girl has the right to an education. Her passion and determination have made her a global symbol of the fight for girls’ education and human rights.
While the purpose or meaning behind moving out of one’s comfort zone may be clear to the person, for others around them, it might have a different meaning. The unconventional approach and unwillingness to follow the traditional paths, values, ideologies etc may make them seem as lost to the rest of society. Also, an inability to commit to long-term plans or responsibilities may lead others to believe that a person is avoiding commitment because they are unsure of their path or afraid of making decisions.
People who seem disconnected from their surroundings or disengaged from their current experiences may be seen as lost. This disconnection might manifest as a lack of interest in the present moment or a sense of detachment. For a person who wants to undertake a spiritual journey, it may look like he is escaping traditional family responsibilities. Similarly, many brilliant minds that have changed the face of science have had to deal with issues like this while growing up. Be it Einstein, be it Edison, be it Tesla, all had to face the crude judgment of society for their unconventional approach to life and learning.
But if we think, we will realize how important and in fact innate this spirit of curiosity and innovation is for humans. If we continue to stay on the well-trodden path, nothing will ever change. It is this spirit of people and their deep desire to change the circumstances surrounding them that sets in the wheel for long-term change. In ancient Indian society, when the Brahminical spirit started dominating the values of intellect, equality, humanity, and logic, the response came in the form of the Bhakti movement that laid out alternate and more inclusive and easier paths for the connection with the almighty.
Amidst every religion, the importance of pilgrimage is central because it gives a person the chance to travel out of the comfort of one’s home and see the world more closely. Pilgrimages have been a means to interact and exchange ideas. Today, such a role is taken forward by the tourism industries that help people see the side of life that was mostly unknown to them. It helps energize people while giving them a fresh perspective by breaking the monotony of their lives.
Along with curiosity, courage is one vital value that helps people take the arduous journey for the bigger purposes in life. It takes a very strong character and resilient spirit to continue one’s journey to an unexplored path. When war was the only answer to any power struggle in the world, Gandhi spent his whole lifetime carving out a path of Ahimsa and truth. When the world felt safe to be part of one of the alliances during the Cold War, a few newly independent nations decided to stay independent and take the risk of not siding with either power in the Non-Aligned movement.
Thus, when guided by a purpose, the wanderers are not lost, but they are making new paths that can be followed. Purposeful wandering often leads to more meaningful personal growth. It allows one to learn and adapt while staying true to your values and goals. This growth contributes to a sense of fulfillment and self-discovery. When someone appears to be wandering without a clear purpose or direction, it can give the impression of aimlessness.
However, there can be an issue with the subjectivity of purpose and objective. If the values for good are absent, that same spirit can open the path to very dark places. Terrorism is one such example where the sense of purpose and the way it is meant to achieve its objective are both guided by wrong and unethical values. The nations like North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. do have a purpose and vision for something but it often clashes with the ideals of humanity, collective good and morality in general.
Such diversion of morals is also witnessed in many cults and sections of society where the alternate path is often misguided, and the followers are often brainwashed to the extent that they are unable to make any informed choices. This often leads to unimaginable tragedies being inflicted upon the rest of society. It is to be noted that such journeys are often not guided by a higher sense of purpose or collective good, but they have an underwritten selfish and unethical motive that seeks to challenge the democratic and inclusive elements in society.
However, it is important to note that wandering does not necessarily mean aimlessly drifting through life. It is possible to wander with purpose, to have a general direction or goal in mind while still being open to new experiences and opportunities. In fact, having a sense of purpose can make wandering even more meaningful and fulfilling.
Thus, it becomes important to balance the journey to the unknown with reason, logic, and relevance. One should try to have clearly defined goals and a sense of purpose when deciding to take an unconventional path. Purposeful wandering often leads to more meaningful personal growth. It allows you to learn and adapt while staying true to your values and goals. This growth contributes to a sense of fulfillment and self-discovery. For instance, someone who travels the world to understand different cultures and gain a global perspective does so with the purpose of personal growth and enlightenment.
Such wanderings should not only be used to promote personal growth, but they should have some value for others too, be it family, society, or humanity in general. APJ Abdul Kalam sacrificed a traditional family structure so that he could focus solely on his higher mission i.e., developing missile capabilities for his nation. Similarly, Kalpana Chawla decided not to be a mother, as she wanted to be an astronaut and go after the bigger calling in her life. Hence, having a clear purpose helps you make informed choices when presented with multiple options. It enables you to evaluate which paths align with your goals and values, preventing you from getting lost in distractions or unproductive ventures.
When one understands why they are taking up a journey, it not only gives them a sense of meaning but also helps them stay resilient and take up challenges upfront. Any unconventional path will be full of setbacks, novel challenges, and unknown obstacles that will test one’s determination and patience often. In those times, if one understands the true value of one’s purpose, it makes their determination unshakeable. Our Soldiers, scientist, political leaders, social activist, artists, writers, acid or rape attack survivors, teachers, lawyers etc all show us this spirit of determination. Even though they make it seem like they are following the traditional paths, the truth is every person is undertaking their own unique journey. For some it’s evident, for many it will be invisible.
What becomes important is to understand that we are all lost, and we are all on a journey to find the true meaning of life. Together we have the power to bring any desired change. Contribution big or small, all are necessary and in this collective journey of humankind we must not underestimate the decisions we take in our day-to-day life. As every decision had potential to be that spark that may ignite the fire of change. As Robert Frost would say,
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
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