Just a few hundred years ago, we all were living on our own continents. People living in Asia did not know about the USA or Europe and the people living in Europe did not know about Asia or the USA. We were living in our continents as if living in our own islands unaware of the larger world. It took the courage of a few explorers who had the courage to venture into an unknown world and enable people to navigate across continents. In India Mythology, Hanuman entered Lanka by crossing the ocean that was unknown to the army of Surgiva and Rama before that. Buddha also set on such a journey of the exploration of truth and wisdom. The science of the day is also exploring what exists beyond the known world and they are sending expedition missions into space and also trying to explore the realities of the quantum world. It appears to me that all these explorations have something in common.
I feel that all these explorations have certain prerequisites. First and foremost is "awareness of the limitations and possibilities". Columbus was aware that Europe was limited and that there was a possibility of land beyond Europe. Hanumana was aware that Sita was not in India and that there was a possibility of finding Sita if he crossed the ocean. Buddha was aware of the limitations of the material world and he was also aware of the possibilities of life beyond this material world. Scientists are aware of the limitations of Earth and the possibilities of life beyond the Earth.
While all these people know the limitations of the island, most people are so engrossed with the limitations that it never strikes them that the island is limited. They are happily engrossed in the material world seeking one after the other sensation. Race for money, power, and properties is endless. They are so engrossed in the "game of sensations". Seeking different outcomes at different points in time makes us feel "happy". However, happiness evaporates before it soaks in. "There are so many games available on the island. We run after the "best education" and get bored with that. We run after "money" and get bored with that. Then we run after "positions", "best companies", "properties", "vacations", "power", "friends", and "family" and all of them make us happy but that happiness too evaporates soon to leave us discontented again. While most people keep shifting the goalpost, some intelligent ones realize the game. They realize the limitations of this "happiness" and see that it is temporary. That encourages them to search for something that is permanent.
Even if there is an awareness of the limited, it is all the more difficult to have an awareness of possibilities. So many people in Europe would have realized the limitations of Europe, but it was Columbus who could see the possibilities. Hanuman could see the possibility of jumping the ocean when he was reminded of his powers by Jamvanta. Buddha could believe in the possibilities that extend beyond the material world. Scientists can see the possibilities beyond the known universe. I feel that requires some connection with the consciousness. That connection makes us recall some old connections with the universe, we have lost awareness whereof due to our obsession with the material world. Each night, the stars in the sky make us recall that connection with the universe unless we are so obsessed with the brightly lit human civilizations.
The second prerequisite of exploration is "courage and conviction". So many people would have thought of the limitations of Europe and the possibilities of land far away in the ocean. However, none had the courage and conviction that Columbus had. Similarly, so many would have thought of a "world beyond the material world" before Buddha but most of them did not have the courage and conviction to explore. Similarly, so many scientists even today do not have the courage and conviction to explore what lies in the domain of the unknown and they prefer to invest their time and energy into the domain of the known world that can yield them quick dividends. This courage and conviction to explore requires a deeper level of connection with the consciousness. Once that deep connection is established, it starts guiding the explorers.
Generally, we do not have the courage and conviction to explore beyond this material world because we lack that deep connection with consciousness. We are so fixated on the "frame of life" we live in that our attention and awareness are completely absorbed therein. The routine has sucked our energy and the daily targets and demands exhaust us. We lose connection to the inner call and get exhausted orbiting around the material world.
The Third prerequisite of exploration is "awareness of ways and means". Columbus can't explore a new world unless he has a very good knowledge and awareness of sailing. Hanumana can not explore Lanka unless he has the Siddhis where he can fly, become small or big, and power to defeat the rakshasas. Buddha can not discover the inner truth unless he sits for long hours in sadhana and samadhi. Scientists can not discover the truth of the quantum world and the cosmos unless they are able to make the instruments that can reach them. We may have a complete awareness of the limitations of the island we live in, have awareness of the possibilities of the land beyond, and also have the courage and conviction to explore, but unless we have the ways and means to explore, we will not reach anywhere.
Our scriptures have blessed us with different ways and means that suit different temperaments. There are different ways such as "Bhakti", "Jnana", "Karma" and "Dhyana" yoga. Depending upon our temperament, we may choose different ways and means and explore reality.
Our brain can be aware of one thing at a time. We can open one application at a time on the laptop. If we constantly keep our brain engaged in world matters, thinking about the office and family, taste and fun, pleasure and accumulation, how would the mind get some space to be aware of the "limitations of the known world and the possibilities of the unknown world"? Unless we give some time and space to the consciousness, how will we connect to that and how will we get the "courage and conviction" to explore into the world of the unknown. Unless we develop the "ways and means" to explore, how would we be capable of exploring? I think that most people like to sleep and rest in the arms of death and only a few have that awareness of the "fast approaching death" and develop the courage and conviction to explore and out of their realization of the urgency develop the ways and means and make themselves capable to explore and then set in their journey where each moment is worth the efforts.
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