Generally, there are two classes of enquirers: (1) Those individuals who are merely curiously skeptical about unusual or arcane subjects, whose real interest lies in upholding their own particular beliefs, and (2) those individuals who are studiously enquiring into the basic and important questions about life and existence, searching for real knowledge concerning purpose and meaning and the truth, whose real interest lies in upholding that truth responsibly and conscientiously.
There are always multitudes of seekers but few finders. Most seekers have not been able to decide on the proper ultimate object of the seeking. Nearly everyone is, at some point in life experience, caught up in motivated curiosity about themselves, about the universe, about God, and death. Also there is the reality of the presence of turmoil, anxiety, distress, and the various dissatisfactions in life. Those who have pursued answers to the questions and who have had some insight into the way things really are, have understood that the source of all the turmoil and doubt and confusion of each individual, as well as of the whole human race collectively, is rooted in only one thing: ignorance. Herein lies the basic ground for all the false values, delusions, superstitions, and misconceptions with which people become entangled. All of the unwanted things and events that happen to people occur because of their inability to perceive deeply into the real nature of the causes of destinies.
The mistaking of conceptual illusion (which is delusion) for what is thought (or hoped) to be reality culminates always in the pursuit of that which is insignificant, and ultimately somehow, painful. There is joy in life, but it is always temporary, and instead of being a primary existential pattern of individual or collective existence, life’s joy, beauty, success, or harmony are happenstance momentary occurrences fitted into a daily life of disturbances and drab morosity. Even when some measure of success or happiness is attained, something occurs which dissolves a sense of security or stability. Everything is impermanent and fleeting; there is found no constant contentment, although there is motivation to keep seeking for it.
Instead of continuing obsessively in this mundane whirl there are a few who arrive at the point of saturation with the common pattern of experience. When this point has been reached, the search for a way or a means to transcend that which before was thought to be the conventional idealistic pursuit begins.
