We often hear about enlightenment—about Nirvana, about those huge, blissful states that are supposed to be the ultimate goal of every spiritual path (especially for those seeking spirituality, meaning, or deeper understanding in life).
I’m writing this for people like me—people who have their own lives and want to grow, both personally and spiritually. To me, growth is a package deal; it includes both aspects. I’m not denying that there are spiritual figures, like monks or teachers in India, who—according to their beliefs—dedicate their lives to seeking enlightenment or preparing for reincarnation. I believe everyone has their own path. I’m writing this for those who want to find balance and meaning in everyday life, without necessarily chasing mystical states.
I used to think that was the whole point. That somewhere down the road, a prize was waiting for me—a state of eternal happiness where all problems disappear. Leaving aside the fact that I don’t have time for hours of deep meditation, after really diving into the topic and reflecting on it, I’ve come to the conclusion that this isn’t what it’s all about.
So, I look at it differently now.
I ask myself: do I really need to search for enlightenment? Do I need to chase after some mystical experiences just to feel that my life has meaning?
My answer is no.
If I’m already seeking truth, if I have values I believe in, and I try to apply them in my life every single day—aren’t I, in a sense, already “enlightened”? Maybe enlightenment isn’t some magical bolt of lightning from the sky. Maybe it’s just a decision to live consciously. Right here, right now.
In my opinion, our job isn’t to escape into blissful states. Our job is to be here. On Earth. Serving others, developing our souls through concrete actions, not just by having our heads in the clouds.
Constantly striving for enlightenment, nirvana, or mystical states can be not only frustrating but actually harmful. Life might slip through our fingers while we focus on something that seems distant and unreachable. In the meantime, we might miss what’s truly important—our daily tasks, our relationships, those small moments of joy. It turns out that in the chase for “something more,” we might become permanently unhappy because we can’t appreciate what we already have. And yet, it is right here on Earth that we have our work to do—to grow, to serve others, and to live in harmony with ourselves.
Of course, I meditate. I try to be mindful. I like moments of reflection when I can sit in silence and look for solutions to my problems. I like listening to the voice of my heart, my intuition, my true self. But I treat these as tools. They aren’t the goal in themselves.
Meditation helps me calm down so I can function better in my relationships with people. Reflection helps me understand what I’m doing wrong so I can fix it. All of this serves life, rather than being an escape from it.
I don’t need to force states of ecstasy. If God, Consciousness, the Universe—whatever we want to call it—wants to call on me, wants to show me something, or put me in a state of total awe or deep insight, it will happen. It will come on its own, naturally. I don’t have to force it. I don’t have to fight for it.
It seems to me that this constant chase for “something more” is a trap. It makes us constantly feel a lack. We constantly feel like we aren’t good enough, aren’t spiritual enough. But everything we need, we already have inside us.
It’s enough to be a good human being. It’s enough to try to understand yourself and others. It’s enough to love and allow yourself to be loved.
This is my spirituality. Simple, grounded, human. And I think that’s exactly the point. Not to look for God somewhere far away in the cosmos, but to find Him in a smile to another person, in honest work, in peace of mind while drinking your morning coffee.
Maybe that is true enlightenment. Being fully present in your own life.
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AI Disclosure
I see my thoughts as the essence, much like the soul, and AI helps me give them form. It supports me with research, translation, and organizing ideas, but every perspective is my own. Curious how I use AI? Read more here.
