The role of listening and vocation in the inquiry process

Four of the verbs presented in the process of inquiry (liberate, remember, integrate, and commit) can be engaged either introspectively or in a context in which the individual is open to outside influences. This second context appears in Janan Ganesh’s reflection on life’s ultimate skill. Ganesh expresses a sense of detachment from the origin of his own decisions and commitments: "None of these decisions truly seem to be mine." 

They do not seem to be his because other individuals participate in the process, along with an undefined Other – a force beyond human agency that reveals itself as an accumulation of circumstances beyond personal control. Ganesh refers to this presence as "a kind of luck." 

Therefore, during the process of inquiry, one must cultivate the ability to listen to this Other, and engage in a dialogue that leads to meaningful expressions and long-term commitments regarding an individual’s life purpose. 

Purpose and vocation

The concept of listening and the reference to an Other naturally connects an inquiry into life purpose with the religious notion of vocation. Indeed, contemporary academic discourse on life purpose frequently engages with this concept — including within universities without religious foundations. For example, it is worth highlighting this contribution from Josep Maria Lozano. 

Biblical traditions offer numerous accounts in which listening and dialogue with God awaken an individual’s awareness of their unique way of confronting each situation and they respond with a commitment that authentically reflects their approach to life. Some examples of “vocation” in the Bible can be found in 1 Sam 3 (the prophet Samuel); Is 6:1–13 (the prophet Isaiah); Jer 1:1–12 (the prophet Jeremiah); Lk 1:26–38 (Mary of Nazareth); Mt 5:1–11 (Jesus’s disciples). This process is often described as a call from God to the believer. Consequently, vocation can be understood as the religious counterpart to the broader notion of life purpose. 

In various biblical narratives, vocational listening and dialogue develop in stages like the process of inquiry discussed earlier — liberate, remember, integrate, and commit. Initially, when experiencing a divine presence, an individual is afraid because they sense an attraction to a new way of life that necessitates a rupture with their social surroundings — and so the need for liberation. They then enter a dialogue in which they listen more calmly to the divine message. This message must be clarified and accepted, as the individual retains the ability to reject it — hence the importance of remembering and deepening their personal story. They must then place their entire being at the service of this message — integration. Finally, the individual is invited to participate in a divine mission as a commitment. Because of this commitment, their life becomes joyfully united with a God who provides continuous support and presence. 

The inquiry process

A non-religious interpretation of vocation enriches the understanding of life purpose through listening:  

• Life’s purpose is not an invention or a fleeting idea. It is discovered rather than made.
• The process of discovery requires the suspension of previous life plans – this often causes fear and confusion as individuals recognize that being faithful to their purpose requires rejecting other paths.
• When an individual fully embraces their life purpose through commitment, a profound sense of peace and inner joy is experienced. These emotions become resources that enable the person to navigate difficult circumstances or moments marked by failure. As Janan Ganesh reminds us regarding the ultimate life skill: "With it, you will often fail to get what you want. But you won’t succeed in getting what you didn’t want.” 

In the fifth and final article of this series, we present practical conclusions and recommendations. With these, we hope to provide teachers and the rest of the educational community with a set of tools to support students in exploring their life purpose.