“I think what you are seeking is a the kind of deep developmental path that is or appears largely unavailable outside of religion. I suspect this due to the way you phrased the question. In other words, you may be feeling the need, desire or urge… to begin to explore the nature of being alive. Of being human. An animal. You may hunger for a taste of ‘what is underneath all of these strange appearances and phenomenon’.

And this is at once good and natural. Be careful, however, of associating this with “religion”. It’s beyond religion and science entirely. What you are probably after… is ‘the great quest of being’ … getting a direct, personal experience of whatever it is that is the source of religions. Unexpectedly, this is also the original source and arena of concern that becomes science.

And, again, this is good and natural. Unfortunately, human cultures want to convert this into servitude and replication behavior. Don’t. That’s not what you are probably after, unless that is explicitly what you are after.

As for ‘the path’, you do not have to adopt one from anyone else or any book … or other authority. In fact, any authentic path will have a peculiar requirement: that you, yourself, discover, establish and live this quest… in person. This is not like watching a film or reading a book.

This is being. Direct. In person. Your becoming… is what you are wanting and probably needing to become. It is hard to explain this but this entire subject lies outside language, ideas, descriptions and human cultures. Even though we, of course, do not. What I mean to say is that … the stuff on offer in the cultures… comprises representations.

These will not do for something you must become.

Study those who sought the path… unobstructed by culture, and undistracted by religion. See what you think of what they have to say… and what they would reject.

Don’t adopt a religion: surpass them, entirely. You were born ‘already doing nothing else’ all day long, every day.

Rediscover that.”

— Quora answer to Q: I feel like I need religion in my life, but no mainstream religion seems to fit. What can I do?