“Not all those who wander are lost.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

In the grand theatre of life, every human soul plays a part. The paths we take, the decisions we make, the directions we choose—they shape our stories, guiding us towards either fulfillment or confusion. Yet, how often do we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of indecision, unsure which direction to take, paralysed by the weight of choice? In the cacophony of the modern world, amidst its loud distractions and relentless urgency, many find themselves lost. The search for the right direction, the right decision, feels like an eternal struggle. And yet, there are moments of deep clarity, where the way ahead is illuminated by a divine whisper.

This article, inspired by the teachings of the great spiritual teacher Neem Karoli Baba, seeks to unravel the mysteries of life’s choices. With the wisdom of the great poets, playwrights, and philosophers, let us embark on a journey to discover the art of making the right decisions in life—an exploration that intertwines the wisdom of the heart, the intuition of the soul, and the timeless words of literary giants.

FAQ with Neem Karoli Baba on Finding the Right Directions in Life

Rahul Verma, in his humble service, attempts to offer answers as a servant of Baba.

Q1: What is the right direction in life? How do we know if we are headed in the right path?

“The path to truth is a simple one: love everyone, serve everyone, remember God.” — Neem Karoli Baba

The first step in understanding the right direction in life is realising that it is not a destination, but a journey—a journey inward, toward the Divine, and outward, in service to others. The Nobel-winning poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote:

“I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung.”

Life’s right direction is not a static place or a fixed position—it is a constant unfolding, a rhythm, a dance. When we align ourselves with love, when we live from the heart, we begin to feel the pull of the right direction, as though the Universe itself gently tugs at our sleeve, guiding us. Every action we take, every decision we make, must stem from love, from kindness, and from a deep sense of connection to all beings.

Neem Karoli Baba’s teachings echo this truth. When we allow our decisions to be informed by love—love for ourselves, for others, and for the Divine—we walk in the right direction. It is the path of selfless service, as Baba so often reminded, that leads to fulfillment. In the words of William Blake:

“He who binds to himself a joy,

Does the winged life destroy;

But he who kisses the joy as it flies,

Lives in eternity’s sunrise.”

This is the essence of finding the right direction: to embrace the fleeting moments, to live joyfully and without attachment to the outcomes, knowing that each step, each decision, is part of the greater whole.

Q2: How do we know if we are making the right decision in life, especially when we feel confused and uncertain?

“When the mind is still, the world is still.” — Neem Karoli Baba

There are moments when the weight of life’s decisions seems overwhelming. The road ahead is obscured, and we cannot see clearly. Yet, in these moments of uncertainty, it is crucial to step back and find stillness. As the poet Rainer Maria Rilke profoundly wrote:

“You must change your life.”

In his Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke urges us to embrace solitude and listen to the quiet voice within, for it is in these moments of reflection that the heart speaks its deepest truths. The right decision is not always the one that is loudest or most immediate—it is the one that emerges from a place of deep silence, of introspection.

Neem Karoli Baba often said, “The mind will lead you into the darkest corners of the past; the heart will always bring you to the present.” The heart, in its purest form, is an instrument of divine guidance. To make the right decision, we must learn to listen to the heart’s wisdom. As the poet William Wordsworth wrote:

“Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop

Than when we soar.”

The answers we seek often lie in the stillness of our being, not in the cacophony of the world. To make the right decision, we must learn to listen—truly listen—to our own inner voice. It is the still, quiet voice that leads us with love, compassion, and clarity.

Q3: How can we trust our intuition in making life’s choices?

“When you have no personal desires, you will be guided by the Supreme.” — Neem Karoli Baba

Intuition is a sacred compass, one that points toward truth even when logic and reason seem unclear.Nobel laureate Hermann Hesse, in his novel Steppenwolf, speaks of the dichotomy between the rational mind and the deeper, intuitive self:

“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”

When we release our attachment to the ego’s desires and surrender to the flow of life, we open ourselves to the subtle guidance of intuition. The right direction often does not come in the form of a grand revelation or a loud directive—it comes as a quiet nudge, a feeling that we cannot always explain but know to be true. This is the language of the soul, the inner wisdom that guides us toward our purpose.

The poet T.S. Eliot, in his work The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, captured the essence of spiritual intuition:

“Do I dare disturb the universe?

In a minute there is time

For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.”

In these lines, Eliot reflects the constant tension between action and indecision. It is the courage to trust our intuition, to act despite uncertainty, that leads to the right choices. As Neem Karoli Baba taught, surrendering personal desires allows the Supreme to guide us.

Q4: How does faith in the Divine help us in finding the right direction?

“Surrender yourself completely to God, and He will take care of everything.” — Neem Karoli Baba

Faith is the cornerstone of the spiritual journey. When we have faith in the Divine, we trust that every step we take is part of a greater plan, a cosmic dance that we may not fully understand but which we are deeply connected to. The great Christian mystic Thomas Merton wrote:

“We do not learn by experience, but by our capacity to experience.”

This capacity to experience comes from faith—the faith that every moment, every decision, is part of a sacred unfolding. Trusting in the Divine is not passive; it is active surrender. We must choose to release control, to allow the Divine to take the lead, and to trust that the right direction will be revealed at the perfect moment.

The poet John Keats, in his ode to uncertainty and faith, wrote:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever:

Its loveliness increases; it will never

Pass into nothingness.”

Keats captures the eternal nature of faith—the beauty that endures even in the face of uncertainty. When we trust in the Divine, we are led to decisions that reflect our highest purpose, our truest self. It is not a matter of control but of surrendering to the divine wisdom that guides us from within.

Q5: How can we balance the material world with spiritual direction?

“Do your work with love, without attachment, and offer everything to God.” — Neem Karoli Baba

The world demands that we live in its material realm—work, relationships, finances, and social responsibilities. Yet, at the same time, we are called to remain rooted in the spiritual realm, to make decisions that reflect our higher self. How do we balance these two worlds?

The answer lies in integrating both realms through conscious action. The great writer Victor Hugo, in his work Les Misérables, demonstrated how spiritual direction could guide us in the most challenging material circumstances. Jean Valjean, the novel’s central character, embodies the idea of selfless action—the willingness to serve others, to choose love and compassion even when the world does not demand it.

In this balance, Neem Karoli Baba offers the simple but profound guidance: “Serve everyone, love everyone, remember God.” It is through selfless service that we align ourselves with both the material and the spiritual, finding a harmonious path that honours both our worldly responsibilities and our spiritual purpose.

The Journey of Self-Discovery

In the end, the question of how to find the right direction in life is not one of certainty, but of trust. Life does not offer us a map with clear, distinct roads; rather, it offers us a compass—the heart. When we live from a place of love, when we serve selflessly, and when we listen to the quiet whispers of our soul, the right path unfolds before us. In the immortal words of the great poet William Blake:

“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”

The right direction is infinite. It is not a linear journey, but a spiral, an unfolding, a constant return to the heart of truth. When we trust, when we surrender, when we act with love, we are always on the right path.

And so, let us walk forward, with faith, with love, and with an open heart—knowing that every step we take, every decision we make, is a sacred part of the divine unfolding.

Ram Ram