Meaning of exploration

 A friend asked a question about the meaning of exploration. I feel that we divide all our activities into exploration and achievement. Activities to explore are process-oriented and the activities to achieve are outcome-oriented. While we carry out activities to achieve something, our attention is divided between the outcome and the process. On the other hand, while we explore, we are not concerned about the outcome. Our attention is fully on the process and therefore, we flow with the process and lose the sense of time.  

Let's discuss a few examples. When we read a book to get good scores on the exam, our attention is divided between the process of reading the book and the anticipated questions that will be asked during the exam. When we read the book to explore the domain of knowledge, there is no diversion of attention. We get fully into the process and lose the sense of time. I have noticed that while reading a book, at times, my mind is obsessed with a problem, and I do not enjoy the process of reading the book in such a state of mind. At certain other times, I flow with the book I am reading.

Similarly, when we discuss with a friend, we may have certain outcomes of the discussion in our mind. We may be seeking emotional support or a solution to a problem. In this case, our attention will be divided between the discussion and the intended outcome. On the other hand, when we have free discussions with a close friend, with no intended outcome, we flow with the discussion and the sense of time seems to be lost.

While attending a meeting, we may be achievement-oriented and may be focussing on the intended outcome of the meeting. Alternatively, we may be exploring the meeting and therefore be fully present during the process. In the second case, we will experience a flow and the sense of time will be lost.

It so happens to me while reading the horoscopes. When I see a particular horoscope, with an intended outcome of analyzing a particular time or event or division chart, the attention gets divided between the reading and the intended outcome. At certain other times, I just read the horoscopes randomly to explore. They start revealing themselves and many new concepts and ideas become clear. Sense of time is lost. I have seen many times that hours seem to have passed in minutes and there is no fatigue while exploring the horoscopes. 

The quality of the experiences reduces significantly with the fixation on the outcomes. We get fixated on the outcomes because we want those outcomes desperately. We become desperate because our minds have assigned huge value to the outcome. It has assigned huge value to the outcome because it has a strong desire to get it. This strong desire is the result of a perceived deficiency. That deficiency is perceived by the mind because of the loss of awareness of our true nature. If we remember our true nature, we know that this body has been given to us to explore this world. Death is not the end of the journey. It's just a temporary halt and the journey continues after the change of the flight. This awareness brings the sanity back to our lives and we stop getting fixated. Since we are complete, there is no question of deficiency. 

Apart from the awareness of true nature, in a purely worldly sense, many of the deficiencies are mistakenly perceived by the brain. Most of the time we cook the story based on very limited facts. We form such stories about different needs such as money, wealth, positions, connections, and knowledge. We first give over-premium to these objects by overlooking the complete story and the context, and then keep making stories to strengthen these fixations. We feel deficient throughout our lives when there is no real deficiency. We live a life running after desired outcomes to fulfill perceived desires and when we achieve the desired outcomes, they appear too meaningless. This is bound to happen because the perceived deficiency was just a mental creation. Pursuing these mirages and getting dissatisfied after reaching them makes the entire life meaningless and we pass away with a number of regrets: I could have done....

If we remain aware of each moment, we will not waste our lives in this falsity and will be able to explore this world, with complete attention being present in the process itself, giving us a rich experience.