What makes someone choose a spiritual life?
Our world is packed with all kinds of experiences. There are places to visit, things to do, shows to watch, hobbies to dive into, wars to fight, people to love, food to eat, and so much more. So why would anyone choose to focus on spirituality, which often means stepping away from all these exciting parts of life?
A lot of us have moments when we realize that, no matter how much stuff we experience, it’s not truly fulfilling unless it brings us peace and happiness. If we’re not getting that from our jobs, we might start looking for a new one. If our relationships aren’t bringing us peace, we may move on. Even with all the things to do in the world, we recognize that most of them aren’t worth doing unless they lead to happiness or fulfillment.
Religion often promises that inner fulfillment. Throughout history, prophets and spiritual leaders have claimed that peace, happiness, and a blissful life are attainable if we follow their path. And for some people, it works. They go to worship services, follow rules, wear special symbols, and read sacred texts. Whether they truly find peace or not is something only they can say, but there are plenty of followers in many religions.
But most of us don’t want to step away from the world entirely. We don’t want to become monks or hermits. We want to enjoy life—its excitement and fun—while also finding that inner peace we feel we’re meant to experience. So we try a bit of religion, hoping to incorporate some of it into our daily lives. We try meditation, but our minds are too noisy to relax. Maybe we try yoga, but we’re more focused on not falling over than on finding peace. So we give up. It just seems like too much effort.
For me, spirituality has always been a major part of my life. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t seeking something spiritual. I went to church, read books, prayed, meditated, fasted, and listened to teachers and preachers. Sometimes I felt close to what I was looking for, other times I felt lost. But the quest for a spiritual life was always my main goal. It wasn’t until one day, when I was in my 40s, that things shifted unexpectedly.
While meditating, I had an experience that made it clear to me that there is no god. This was shocking to someone who had spent his life searching for God. But oddly, in that moment, everything made sense. It was the clearest understanding I’d ever had. I felt like I’d experienced what others call being “born again.” It was a total shift in my consciousness. From that point on, I stopped all my spiritual practices—no more prayers, meditations, or studying. For ten years, I lived without any concept of God. And surprisingly, it wasn’t at all like the life I’d been told atheists lead. There was no anger or hopelessness—just joy, fulfillment, and inner peace.
After ten years, I felt a pull to start meditating again. This time, I didn’t expect it to be a spiritual practice. I thought it would help me focus and be more creative. But it turned out to be the doorway to a new form of spirituality—one that didn’t require effort or expectation. It was the spiritual experience I’d been searching for my whole life. And it came naturally.
One of my biggest frustrations during my spiritual journey had been the confusing and complex teachings from various spiritual leaders, which often left me more lost than when I started. But when I reached that moment of clarity, it was simple. So natural. Why had I spent so much time trying to understand spiritual puzzles, when the truth was so simple? Was there no teacher who could have helped me wake up without leading me further into confusion?
That’s really the goal of this website: to provide a simple path for those looking to “wake up.” To help you realize that peace and happiness aren’t things you chase—they are your true nature. They are the background of everything you experience in life. I’m not here to start a new religion or teaching. The world doesn’t need that. My goal is to offer thoughts, ideas, and examples that can help shake up your old thinking and open you up to new insights. I hope that through this, you can experience the beauty, simplicity, and wonder of the reality that you are.