The Inner Odyssey: Chasing Meaning in a World That Simply only Runs!

The ephemeral dissonance of existence—its constant yet fabled delusional reality—shapes our perception of personality and character in fascinating ways. When we realize that every person we meet is a random mosaic of emotions and past experiences, it becomes clear that 

- We are yet another hamster looking for another - always a new wheel to run! This was a constant botheration for me until i wanted to learn and understand and explore more on how stories had driven people to look for something above and beyond human life give meaning, and revered.

This leads to me the next question the very aspect of having an expedition in order to seek peace or understand oneself - This notion is a deeply ingrained concept in many cultures and philosophies.

As today's world fancies more the wanderlust types rather than simple yet profound and elegant, intricate tools like mindfulness and self-reflection, a paradox emerges. While the magnetic pull of travel—embracing new places, immersing in diverse cultures, and savoring fresh experiences—ignites our wanderlust and fans the flames of adventure, the equally transformative inner journey remains underappreciated and seldom ventured by many!

When we look at different cultures, they have varying views on the necessity of journeys for self-discovery. For example, the Western concept of the "hero's journey" emphasizes the importance of an outward quest, while many Eastern philosophies, such as Buddhism, focus more on inward journeys through meditation and contemplation. - interesting isn’t it!!?

This makes me understand the reason why Ordinary life experiences are always frowned upon when we talk about spirituality!!

Some concepts have long been fancied and always appeared far from reach for ordinary people like - a cure all medicine, teleportation, Spirituality, immortality and pernicious philosophy

Coming from south of India rich in stories, morals and epicenter of temples and religions i understand and have always wanted to understand spirituality in my own ways.

Every temple, every story, and every ritual had a purpose—some overt, some hidden beneath layers of interpretation. The way people engaged with these traditions ranged from deep devotion to casual indifference, yet the core essence of seeking something beyond oneself remained universal.

But here’s where the paradox kicks in—why is it that spirituality, something so deeply personal, is often presented as an elusive, grand pursuit? Why does it feel like only the sages, monks, or the exceptionally wise are deemed worthy of “attaining” something that, in truth, should be an intrinsic part of all of us? It’s almost as if enlightenment has become another destination on a map rather than a state of being.

This realization led me down a rabbit hole—or should I say, into yet another wheel—where I started questioning the very fabric of spirituality. Is it in the mountains where monks meditate in isolation? Is it in the grand journeys people take across continents to seek wisdom? Or is it in the mundane—the everyday conversations, the small acts of kindness, the unspoken moments of reflection?

I began to see spirituality not as a pursuit but as a perspective. And that shift in understanding opened doors I never knew existed.

Yet, despite this understanding, the question still lingers—are we, as modern wanderers, chasing wheels instead of understanding stillness? And if the journey inward is the answer, why does it seem so much harder than the outward adventure?

But here’s where the irony sets in—expectations, both from ourselves and others, have an exhausting way of shaping our reality. The moment we expect, we create a void, a potential disappointment waiting to happen. We tether our emotions to an outcome, and when it doesn’t unfold the way we hoped, it discharges an enormous amount of energy—frustration, sadness, resentment, apathy.

Isn’t it strange how much of our suffering comes not from what is but from what we thought should be?

In relationships, we expect love to look a certain way, friendships to remain unchanged, and people to always understand us as we intend. But the truth is, no one ever truly sees us as we are—they see us through the lens of their own experiences, emotions, and assumptions. And we, in turn, do the same to them. The image others hold of us is merely a mosaic of our actions, words, and their own internal narratives.

So where does that leave us? If our identities are shaped by expectations, filtered through perception, and constantly evolving, then what part of us is real? The one we present? The one others assume us to be? Or the one we believe we are in the quiet moments of solitude?

Maybe spirituality, much like authenticity, is not about arriving at a final truth but about existing in the fluidity of these contradictions. To be both known and unknown. To be both seen and hidden. To be both the seeker and the one surrendering.

This brings me back to the paradox of spirituality in modern times. We are drawn to grand quests—the Himalayan retreats, the silent meditations, the pilgrimage routes—because they feel like tangible steps toward something greater. But what if the deepest form of spiritual awakening isn’t found in a monastery or on top of a mountain but in the simplest of human experiences? In the disappointment of an expectation unmet, in the quiet acceptance of an imperfect relationship, in the moment we stop trying to define who we are and simply allow ourselves to be?

Maybe the real journey isn’t about stepping away from the hamster wheel—it’s about realizing that the wheel itself is an illusion. And once we see that, we’re free.

Maybe!