Holistic Travel Lessons #1: Letting Go to Find Everything

After spending six months traveling through Southeast Asia, I now sit in the stillness of the Himalayas, reflecting on my journey from a third-person perspective. This is the first of a series of holistic travel lessons—insights that emerged not from chasing experiences but from embracing presence.

This period of travel was unlike the conventional rush to tick places off a bucket list. It was an immersion into presence, where the absence of rigid desires and expectations opened the doors to pure experience, contentment, and the essence of Nishkam Yoga.

The Paradox of Desires and Expectations

In our modern world, we are conditioned to believe that ambition, desires, and expectations fuel our success and happiness. But what if they are actually the obstacles? When we desire something intensely, we attach expectations to it—expectations of how it should unfold, how we should feel, and what outcome it should yield. When reality doesn’t align with these expectations, disappointment arises. Even when it does, the mind quickly moves to the next craving, perpetuating an endless cycle of dissatisfaction.

During my travels, I saw this contrast clearly. Many travelers I met were fixated on capturing the perfect photo, rushing from one famous spot to another, constantly checking itineraries, and seeking the next thrill. Their travels were more about ticking boxes than actually being in the moment. In contrast, I found that by letting go of an agenda, I could truly absorb the essence of each place—cherishing small conversations, marveling at subtle cultural nuances, and relishing simple, insignificant moments.

The Art of Nishkam Yoga: Acting Without Attachment

This realization echoes the philosophy of Nishkam Karma, as taught in the Bhagavad Gita—acting without attachment to the outcome. Osho expands on this beautifully, stating that true fulfillment comes not from chasing rewards but from acting out of intrinsic joy. When we operate without the pressure of success or failure, every action becomes an expression of our purest self, free from societal conditioning.

Our world conditions us to equate worth with achievement, sending us through a process of ‘compulsory miseducation’—training our minds to always think, plan, and expect. This conditioning makes it difficult for people to just be, to engage in actions for their own sake, without an agenda or desperation for results. However, when we shed this conditioning and embrace Nishkam Yoga, we unlock a state of presence where even the smallest experiences feel whole and meaningful.

Freedom Lies in Non-Attachment

The moment we release desires and expectations, any experience—be it drinking tea with a local vendor, watching a sunset, or simply sitting in silence—becomes complete in itself. There is no need for validation, comparison, or longing for the next thing. Life ceases to be a chase and transforms into an unfolding dance of presence and participation.

Bringing such a non-desiring quality to every experience also deepens our connection with both places and people. When we interact without hidden motives or expectations, we create a space of genuine openness. People sense this and, in turn, open up to us in ways they normally wouldn’t. Places, too, reveal their deeper essence when we are not rushing through them, seeking only what stands out. This presence allows us to truly learn from our surroundings and from the individuals we meet—bringing out the best in both ourselves and those we encounter.

A verse from the Bhagavad Gita captures this essence beautifully:

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
(Karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana)
“You have the right to perform your actions, but never to the fruits of your actions.”

Letting go of the fruit liberates us. It allows us to act with sincerity, without the burden of expectation. This, in turn, leads to a life rich in joy, success, and fulfillment—not because we chased them, but because we embraced the flow of existence itself.

Conclusion: The Joy of Simply Being

My journey through Southeast Asia reaffirmed that true success is not about accumulating experiences but about being fully present in each one. When we drop desires and expectations, we don’t lose anything; rather, we gain the ability to fully participate in life, in its smallest and most profound moments alike. In this way, fulfillment ceases to be a goal and becomes our natural state.

If there’s one lesson to carry forward, it is this—be here, now. The moment is already enough.