The journey of Life

This article is inspired by a recent experience the author had. It is a light-hearted article that may open our curiosity and interest in our journey inward.

The author was driving a car up a mountain road. For those of us who have driven up mountains or steep hills, we know that the road leading up is usually not a mere straight, direct road. These roads are usually full of bends, turns, and corners, going like this all the way to the top. Zig-zag, zig-zag.

So, let's consider what these roads have to teach us, and how they may relate to our spiritual journey and our inquiry into our True Nature.

The ride upwards

Firstly, before the journey, the author needed a map to get an idea of where he had to go, and more or less what he might expect. Planning is important.

As the author was driving up this mountain, it became clear that one has to stay fully concentrated on the road. The road was quite narrow and steep. Many areas were without protective side guards or fences.

So, under no circumstances can one be fiddling with the radio, look at one's phone, or get distracted. This road requires one's complete concentration and awareness. 

Being so focused and present, one simply does what the present moment requires, moment to moment: Shift the gear up, turn the wheel, look ahead, slow down, brake, shift gear, turn the wheel, look ahead, etc. This requires no thinking. These actions seem to arise spontaneously from the present moment.

Furthermore, one realizes that one cannot daydream while driving this road. For example, to daydream about what the end of the road may be like, or what the view from the top may be like. One has to remain committed to the present, while having no idea what may appear around the next corner.

We have to keep driving, and we cannot suddenly stop in the middle of the road to enjoy or observe something. This can be dangerous. So, as we drive, a beautiful view may appear, and for a short moment, one can enjoy the glimpse as one passes by. Then, suddenly, a squirrel may run in front of the car, and one has to slow down. Around the next corner, a big rock may be in the road, or a big chunk of wood. We may encounter an accident or a beautiful red fox. Absolutely anything can happen, and we have no idea how we may respond; we can only be spontaneous and respond to whatever presents itself to us.

From time to time, there may be signs next to the road, guiding us and helping us navigate our way to the top. For these, we are grateful. 

Now, let's consider how this relates to our spiritual path, or simply to our everyday life.

The journey of Life

Life happens in the here and now, in the present moment, and so, we are required to be present and to deal with life as it unfolds. Life does not "wait" for us, and we are required to keep going, to keep moving.

In life, we never know what will happen next. We may have a rational idea that if this happens, then that should follow. Yet, we can never be certain. Love and Grace do not follow any linear rationality. Anything and everything is possible.

Thus, we stay focused on what is in front of us, in the present, and we try our very best, in this moment. We keep doing this, moment to moment, without getting entangled in ideas about the past or future, and without comparing the present to the past.

If and when a challenge comes our way, we deal with it there and then, in the best way we can. We do not cling to a previous moment of how this challenge made us feel, or what we thought about it. We keep going, moment to moment.

Accordingly, if something enjoyable and beautiful comes our way, we can enjoy it while it is there, knowing that this too, shall pass. In this way, we can enjoy without clinging, grasping, and suffering. We can really enjoy.

The spiritual path

Before we start our spiritual journey, it is important to have a "map". Otherwise, we may get lost, hurt, or end up in dangerous places. So, we may join a religious community that resonates with us, or we may join a spiritual tradition or group where we have guides and hopefully someone who has already taken on this journey, and can guide us with love and experience.

Just as we do not yet know what the mountain top looks like, we also do not yet know what our True Nature is. We conveniently forgot our True Nature, so we can participate in this beautiful journey called Life.

On our spiritual journey, we will get intuitive signs that we are heading the right way, that we are on the right path. Yet, just as the road signs indicating the destination ahead are not the destination itself, so are our intuitive signs and experiences not the end of our journey. We do not stop after getting some insight, or a mere glimpse of our True Nature. We do not stop our search for peace and happiness, when we experience a moment of bliss or joy. We want lasting peace and happiness.

So, we proceed with our inquiry, our investigation, and our practice. We keep checking up. Our journey inwards requires a complete surrender. We keep dissolving into Being. We keep letting go, as our hearts expand and we start to sense the infinite, limitless freedom of our True Nature.

Back to the journey up the mountain - if we hold an expectation of what may await us on the mountaintop, we may be disappointed. If we remain open and free from ideas, we may be pleasantly surprised!

The same goes for our investigation into our Being. We hold no ideas or concepts of what it should be; we free ourselves from any notions such as liberation, samsara, enlightenment, buddha-hood, and we remain open for the revelation of the Unknown.

When our hearts and minds are pure, free from discrimination and concepts, we will finally arrive at our destinationless Destination.

A view from the top allows us to see, with broader insight and understanding, the journey we undertook.

Related articles on this blog:

Freedom in our True Nature - April 2025
The Divine Dream - March 2025
Future Fears - February 2025