A Solo Pilgrimage: Finding Meaning on the Camino de Santiago
A 25-year-old woman, tired of a conventional life, decided to embark on a transformative journey. Leaving behind her job, relationship, and family, she ventured to Europe with only a small amount of savings, driven by a deep question: "What is the meaning of life?". She sought answers on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route in Spain.
The Broken Bracelet and the Journey Begins
The day of her departure started with an odd omen: her Tibetan bracelet, a protective talisman, unexpectedly broke. Taking it as a sign of warding off misfortune, she set off on the Camino, a 261-kilometer trek from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The journey was expected to last ten days.
Challenges and Reflections on the Road
The initial stages of the pilgrimage presented physical and mental hurdles. She reminisced about a past cycling challenge in Taiwan that revealed her hidden strength. The journey became a metaphor for letting go of the past and embracing change. There were moments of near-collapse and temptations to quit, but the thought of the beautiful scenery motivated her to continue.
The traveler also faced practical difficulties like accommodation challenges and a dying phone battery. Finding a place to stay proved more expensive and difficult than anticipated. Despite these setbacks, she remained optimistic and grateful for small comforts, such as finding a supermarket to recharge her phone and buy dinner.
Letting Go and Embracing the Present
Further along the way, the pilgrim encountered unexpected obstacles: her luggage could not be shipped due to its contents. Forced to lighten her load, she donated clothes and makeup, experiencing the difficulty of letting go of possessions. She reflected on past experiences of loss, such as a broken hard drive containing all her photos. This resonated with Stoic philosophy, focusing on what we can control.
The traveler found solace in the teachings of Zhuangzi, emphasizing the importance of the soul over material possessions. As the journey progressed, she gained a deeper understanding of the need to release attachments and embrace the present moment. The journey was a constant exercise in reducing and simplifying.
Encounters and Serendipity
Throughout her pilgrimage, the woman met fellow travelers. She met a British man traveling without a phone and shared laughter and stories with others along the way. A serendipitous encounter at a small shop where the owner let her take what she needed. It refueled her spirits. It restored her faith in humanity, and highlighting the beauty of simple acts of kindness.
Discoveries and Insights
As the journey continued, the traveler had an epiphany about her relationship with her mother. While feeling restricted from her mother’s love, she had an insight that the underlying way her mother expressed love was still unconditional.
Reflecting on this insight, she thought about a phrase from a Liang Jingru song, saying that the greatest distance is standing right next to someone. Yet they are unable to see love, if one is measuring it through their own means.
Finding Meaning in the Moment
Reaching her destination after countless challenges, the woman felt a sense of accomplishment. She reflected on the significance of the journey, realizing that the meaning of life is not in the past or the future but in the present moment.
She had found that living fully in each moment - feeling the sensations, engaging in work, resting, connecting with others - is the true essence of existence. The conclusion being that these experiences and their fleeting nature are what truly matters.
Final thoughts
Arriving at her stay and reflecting back on the whole trip, the author recognized all her blessings. Finally understanding what the purpose of her trip was for: to find meaning in the past, present, and future.
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