A recent conversation with my friend S in a café.

Me: Life is uncertain. Don’t you think? Anything can happen anytime.

Friend: Yes, so go ahead and enjoy it while it lasts. Why are you worried and always trying to show the fleeting side of it?

Me: But don’t you see what’s happening in the world?

Friend: How does that affect you?

Me: Don’t be so naïve. Even if it doesn’t affect you now, it will in a few months. Everything is connected. You have a cushion to protect you from shocks. Not everyone has it.

Friend (thinking): True. But what can you do about it? These forces are beyond your control. And one thing is sure — worrying about it won’t make it better.

Me: My point is not about worrying. My point is — why are we not seeing? Why are we ignoring what’s happening and going on with our lives as if nothing is happening? We are turning a blind eye.

Friend: It’s not like that. One person can’t do much even if they see what’s going on. Don’t you have a family to take care of? You must enjoy your life while you can. Why bother about things happening elsewhere that don’t concern you?

This is the challenge with most people. We don’t see the whole picture. We see only what is happening in our own lives. And eventually, when things don’t go right for us, we experience the same apathy from others. Then we complain — why is no one bothered? Why does no one see? We want others to look at us. But we don’t want to look at others. This is how we are conditioned. But it is conditioning. And it can be seen.

Me: Hear me out. Let’s try to understand.

You go to work to earn money. With that money, you enjoy life. You feel you are doing well. You earned it, so you deserve it.

But look closely — this is a setup.

You are born into it. You are told to pursue education, get a job, build a life. And once you do, you feel you’ve succeeded. You left others behind. You are smart, capable.

But something else happens quietly.

You become afraid of losing it.

This life pulls you into its vortex. You run faster and faster.

Yes, there are good moments — travel, experiences, comfort.

But underneath it all, your life becomes structured and narrow.

Home → car → office → car → home.

Maybe an airport. Maybe a restaurant. Then back again.

You don’t really know what lies beyond this loop.

You are isolated from the larger movement of life.

As you grow older, the pressure increases —

on your relationships, your health, your mind.

And even if you want to step out, you can’t.

The best you get is a two-week vacation.

Friend: What’s your point? It sounds depressing. Why focus on the negative side?

Me: I’m not talking about everyone.

There are people struggling every day just to survive. For them, meaning and purpose are not the priority. They need solutions, not philosophy.

But there are others — like you and me.

We are in a more comfortable position. We have time. We have stability.

So what do we do with that space?

We work more.

Or we distract ourselves.

Friend: What is there to find out? Not everyone is spiritually inclined like you. People want to enjoy life. What’s wrong with that? If I’ve earned money, shouldn’t I enjoy it?

Me: It’s not about spirituality or giving things up.

It’s about reality.

I’m saying — you are not really living in the real world.

It’s like being born in Disneyland and believing the cartoon characters are real.

You never question.

You never wonder.

And I don’t blame you.

You were given answers early in life — so you stopped looking for yourself.

This is where most conversations end. People disengage. They return to their phones, messages, news. Curiosity has been slowly replaced by information. We were trained to accumulate knowledge — not to inquire. To rekindle that curiosity is difficult. Sometimes, it takes a shock.

Friend: So what do you want me to see?

Me: Look — you believe you are S.

But are you really?

Others told you that. It’s written on your birth certificate, your Aadhaar card. You can prove it.

But that is just a name.

Who are you, really?

Have you ever wondered about this simple fact — that you are alive?

Or do you just carry on mechanically?

It is possible to live like this — comfortably, in this constructed world.

But if curiosity is rekindled, something changes.

You begin to look.

Beyond the structure. Beyond the story.

And in that moment of seeing, you experience yourself as the one who sees.

Beyond identity. Beyond labels.

At that point, words fall short.

From there, you have to see for yourself.

Friend: (looks at me in disbelief)

“Okay…Sounds nice. Let’s go now. Please ask for the bill.”