After spending two weeks on a hidden beach in India, I wrote the following words. Little did I realize, it marked the beginning of an inward journey——

In this hidden oasis, I found my escape from the confines of a misleading reality.

It’s astonishing how the mind flourishes when afforded the necessary time and space. Utilizing the same mind, body, and senses I’ve always possessed, but with a shifted perception of time, my mind ventured into uncharted internal realms.

The initial realization was that I hardly knew myself.
“Hi, it’s me. Pleasure to meet you/me.”

I was convinced of my awareness and acuity in my environment, only to discover I was mistaken. Like many, I was enveloped in a fog, fed a distorted reality, and hurled forcefully into an endless, unfulfilling chase. We sprint towards our own dissatisfaction, our own bondage, deceived by an illusion of freedom. Believing that more action equals more liberty, that more possessions bring more pleasure. We showcase our “fun” days, yet they’re anything but. We feign interest in others’ happiness, hide our fear of failure from the relentless pace of modern life. We’re anxious about social acceptance, from the number of likes on a profile picture to attending the right events to avoid being deemed outdated. We question our life plans based on others’ perceived successes without truly understanding what success means to us personally, likely finding our definitions surprisingly uniform.

And therein lies the danger; assuming the majority’s perspective is correct simply because it’s widespread, yet it’s not. We’re trapped in a cycle, influenced by mob mentality, rushing towards malevolence. As ancient Hindu wisdom suggests, the root of evil is this very illusion.

This illusion shapes our ego-based identity, defining us by our race, gender, possessions, nationality, and religion, and tying us to fleeting aspects like wealth and societal status, fostering desires, greed, anger, and hatred, moving us away from virtues like patience and understanding. It’s no wonder stress is so prevalent.

Ironically, we’re all aware of this on some level. Our minds and hearts attempt to alert us daily, but we’re either too busy or unwilling to heed the call. Acknowledging this truth might lead to loneliness, a state most wish to avoid, so we choose ignorance.

But there comes a moment when the mind delves deeper into reality, opening our senses for a genuine dialogue, syncing every heartbeat. That’s when consensus is reached. That’s when you truly perceive, listen, and feel.

That’s the moment you realize you’re at the threshold of a journey—a journey towards truth.