Life is full of contradictions. It is very long and very short at the same time. When we are stuck in a situation that we do not like, life appears to be quite long; on the other hand, when we enjoy what we are doing, life passes in the blink of an eye. Life is full of choices and at the same time constrained of choices. We are free to make any decision to change our career, invest in new relationships, or explore different things in this world, but at the same time the old choices demand their share of time and we feel constrained to allot time to those choices. The more time we allot to those choices the more constrained we feel to make new choices.
Many such contradictions persist because we do not know the consequences of change. We are generally afraid of the unknown and that's why take the safe option of pursuing whatever path is shown by society. That's why most people get an education, marry, have kids, have some promotions, retire, and die. That's the entire story of their life. Since the story is so boring, and the story of the lives of most people in society is so boring, they try to add some artificial spice by making mental stories of the fun and entertainment around social functions, parties, and possessions of material objects. Relationships are treated as the goal of life. Some people invest in their next life also by donating and helping others.
Not so that none has been able to find an alternative to this boring life. History is full of examples of people who have been able to explore life very differently. However, there is a cost. All these people have been able to embrace uncertainty. When Columbus started on his journey, he would never be certain that he would be able to make it. But somehow he must have been quite certain that he does not want to live the same old life full of routine and boredom and once he would have dropped the idea of living the same routine life, he would have got that conviction to move on an uncharted path. Similarly, Sri Aurobindo was a brilliant personality and a knower of so many languages. living an ideal life by the standards of this world. He would have developed the conviction that he would not waste his precious life in this routine and that's why he could take such an uncharted path.
I feel that an uncharted path can't be followed until a person is fully convinced about the limitations of the worldly ways of living. While inside the well, it is very difficult to fathom the width of the ocean, but one can very well understand the limitations of the well. Unless one makes mental stories about the grandness of the well, one can always be aware of the limitations of the well. Acceptance of that truth gives one conviction to move outside the well and explore the ocean. This is what all the great personalities across the world have done. Not so that they know the destination when they venture out on their journey. But there are at least two things. First, they are convinced about the limitations of the well and therefore decide not to remain confined to the well. Second, they have a keen interest in exploring reality in one or the other form.
For exploration to be a drive, one must be convinced of the limitations of the known gleam and shine. The world will always present "what it knows" as the ultimate truth. Society at large would never admit its understanding of the world is too limited. It will consistently pretend to know everything. It will project its mythology, rituals, and conventions as if they represent the ultimate reality of the universe. This is a matter of survival for them. After all, if 99% of society chooses to stay in the well, they must glorify the well. It is up to that 1% to challenge this and emerge from the well to explore the ocean, and these 1% will always be the torchbearers for like-minded individuals in future generations. People like us draw inspiration from the writings of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Paramhansa Yogananda, Sri Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi, Galileo, Einstein, and other such figures who dared to step outside their well, rather than those who spent their lives in the "comforts" and the "fear of losing these comforts" within the well.
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