pause to consider

There may come a moment in life when the world no longer stimulates us and we feel deeply apathetic, even abandoned. This can motivate us toward the search for our real nature beyond appearances. When we no longer find interest in activities and states, when we no longer feel much pleasure in objects and human relationships, we may find ourselves asking: "Is there something wrong with this world or with my attitude toward it?" This serious doubt can lead us to ask: "What is the meaning of existence? What is life? Who am I? What is my true nature?" Sooner or later any intelligent person asks these questions.

- Jean Klein, master of Advaita Vedanta in the tradition of Ramana Maharshi and Atmananda Krishna Menon and author of many books on non-dualism.