Undertaking the journey of self-discovery

Shriniv Narayan *

What does it mean, to undertake a journey of Self-discovery? Should one do it only if there is a benefit and should one do something only for benefit? It is like someone asking, "Why should I be a good person?"

The question arises because he feels it is pointless to be good person as there are no benefits. Life is seen as a series of problems that have to be resolved. The common perception is that one needs to be street smart, manipulative, competitive and ambitious to be able to overcome challenges.

Those who are inclined to reflect might well ask, 'Who am I'? We all seem to be at each other's throats all the time. Beyond the plastic smile, one actually is boiling with jealousy and hatred triggered by the tendency to constantly compare oneself with another.

Hence the need to go on a journey of Self-discovery, which is essentially the peeling off of several layers of false notions, ideas, assumptions, labels, titles, status, concepts and images we have cloaked ourselves with.

The culmination of the journey of Self-discovery is that we become nothing. That means no ego, no pride, no self that cleverly manipulates. From emptiness springs the fountain of love.

Undertaking a voyage of Self-discovery is both an easy and arduous task.

It is easy for those that do not employ will, effort and determination. It is arduous for those who are seeking a preconceived goal and result. The journey cannot be separated from the destination. As one keeps treading the path, the destination becomes clearer, until the heavens open up, to put it metaphorically.

Take the journey within and you will find that it is much more fun, more thrilling, exciting and mysterious than a storybook or movie filled with drama, action, crime and romance.

As you travel inwardly, you will encounter dark corners and crevices, boulders and ravines that you will have to surmount. These are the psychological malaise of greed, envy, desire, ambition, anger, brutality, jealousy, hurt, arrogance, undue anxiety or worry and sorrow.

As you keep removing the different impediments, there is a transformation or mutation even in the content of consciousness. With the complete draining out of negativities, there comes a freshness and spontaneity from which will spring forth action which is qualitatively very different because such an action will have care, affection, responsibility, sensitivity, love and compassion.

The result of the voyage of Self-discovery is to become intelligent which is actually the harmony between love and reason.

At its highest point intelligence is the flowering of goodness with the total absence of the self as 'me' or 'i'. Beyond this lies the path to witnessing something deeply sacred and supreme which cannot be described through language and words which are just a means of communication.

What can be explained is the ending of the known or cleansing of consciousness. The freedom that springs from emptiness will burst forth in all directions.

Action from freedom is truth because truth is moving, living, ever-changing and dynamic and you can't possibly bottle it as an idol or symbol. You can't fill the ocean in a bucket.

Truth is immense whose immeasurability is inexplicable.

The Self-discovery journey is the threshold from where the path takes one to a fourth dimension of bliss and liberation, not describable by human thought.