Seneca — Roman philosopher and statesman (4–65 BC) — once said: “Those who do not know where they are going—how can they ever arrive?”
The period in which this philosopher lived quietly reveals something to us: although humanity has passed through countless lifetimes—living and dying, dying and living again—whether ancient or modern, we have always been doing one essential and singular thing: asking ourselves, “Who am I? What meaning do I hold in this life?”
No matter how dramatically the material world around us changes, we remain much the same: born, growing up, working, contributing, and then endlessly searching for a sense of belonging, for our higher purposes, and for the path we wish to walk.
Excerpt from Osho:
“We are not strangers or outsiders. We are part of Existence. This is our home. It is not by accident that we are here. We are here because we are needed. It is the will of Existence. Hence no one needs to feel alienated. That is one of the most fundamental problems humanity faces today. All over the world, intelligent people are worried, troubled, and perplexed, asking: Why are we here?
According to science, it seems we are here by accident—and if it is an accident, then we are meaningless. Whether we exist or not makes no difference. If there is no difference, life loses all meaning, and a climate of meaninglessness spreads across the world.”
Surely, we believe that all existence carries its own inherent meaning. It cannot be that our world exists without purpose. Put another way, this world is a means through which each of us expresses our unique meaning. And it is crucial that we return to our own purity, without allowing this means to obstruct us or cast its shadow over us.
If you are still unclear about your personal goals or your deepest aspirations, that is nothing unusual. We are born and raised in a world shaped by different means than before: material abundance has increased, desires multiply rapidly, and prejudices are more pervasive—becoming “greedy navigators” steering us toward material craving rather than back to our pure Being.
We grow familiar with this from childhood into adulthood—so familiar that we stop questioning whether it is right. Even when questions arise, we tend to dismiss them, because we do not yet know what could replace the old patterns.
And yet, one day, we begin to sense something wrong with our natural capacity for connection and empathy. The more we accumulate in the material world, the colder we feel, the emptier and lonelier we become, and the more insistently the question “Who am I?” returns. Could this be a sign that our Being is urging us to stop wandering and to come home?
On the right path, connection with the world and the ability to empathize become as natural as seeing with our eyes, hearing with our ears, or touching with our hands.
On that path, each soul quietly observes and listens to its inner world, willingly respecting the paths of others, reaching out a hand when someone is stuck—and in turn receiving the warm hands of those who walked ahead and are destined to help. Simple, yet sacred and powerful.
The problem is that from the very beginning, we chose objects of the external world as the goals of our lives—so naturally that we never doubted it—and we continue to pass this on to those within our influence and to future generations we may touch.
If you ask someone at the peak of fame or wealth, who has not tended to their spiritual journey, you may sense that they feel successful, yet lack a sense of deep fulfillment. Moreover, driven by this idea of success, we consciously or unconsciously impose these standards on family, friends, colleagues, and others around us—sometimes respectfully, sometimes not.
When we experience deep fulfillment, however, we speak far less and impose far less. We seek natural harmony and respect the paths of those around us. We simply remain there—to help.
You may not readily admit how uncomfortable it feels to move from being someone who imposes to someone who patiently observes and supports. But trust this: you will feel relief when you move from being imposed upon to being accepted and helped. By making this shift, there is no doubt that—at the very least—you make another person happier.
Whether we walk in the right direction from the start, or wander for decades before returning, is perfectly fine. Some people may never find their inner path in this lifetime—and that, too, is okay. Every path we walk brings experience.
It is only that wandering too long and too far costs us time and deepens our confusion. Most people travel in wide circles before gradually recognizing their starting point. At that moment, the greatest courage is the courage to begin again.
There is nothing regretful about beginning again. For when we do, the soul stands at a far more mature starting point. We can go farther, with a happier heart and a more solid faith.
A sincere and simple suggestion is this: find that path within yourself through meditation, mindfulness, and awareness. Having long relied on the external world, we often look to others for guidance—yet many of them are just as lost, not to mention those who may pull us even farther from our true path for their own gain.
Stillness, listening to oneself, and looking deeply within to let one’s path reveal itself—this is the best and only way to answer the questions: “Who am I? What is my meaning?”
Why the urgency? Because we have physical bodies, and time keeps flowing in the physical world. The longer we wander, the faster middle age and old age arrive. While maturity and clarity about our mission often appear in these stages of life, health can become a challenge—and sometimes we may have to wait until another lifetime to ask these questions again.
We need to focus on what is unfolding daily within us, becoming deeply grounded and focused—especially on whatever brings forth a sense of deep fulfillment. Yet we often avoid pursuing it seriously within ourselves, choosing instead to exhaust ourselves chasing it in the external world. This contradiction leaves us going nowhere.
Today, treat whatever you dislike or resent as pieces of trash. When they arise, name them: “This is trash.” Crumple them up, and gently toss them away.
Conversely, when you feel something—no matter how small—that brings happiness or joy, reach out, take it, and carefully place it into your inner box of happiness.
At the end of the day, sit quietly with yourself, open that box, and see what life has gifted you today.