Why do some people wander throughout their lives aimlessly?

 Everyone has some aim in life. The default is to enjoy and avoid suffering.

Those more in the mode of passion are active in pursuing this goal. So they have their purpose and do what they can to achieve it. Some are really driven and others are more modest in their goals. Those more in the mode of ignorance are less capable, so even though they want to enjoy they aren’t very good at pursuing the goal, so they more take life as it comes and hope for a break. That comes across as aimless, but it’s not really. They still have the aim of enjoying life, they just aren’t motivated and competent enough to actively chase it, but will welcome it if it falls in their lap.

It’s all in the modes of nature and our karma.

O chief of the Bharatas, when there is an increase in the mode of passion the symptoms of great attachment, fruitive activity, intense endeavor, and uncontrollable desire and hankering develop. Bg 14.12

When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested. Bg 14.13

No one is ever purely in one mode, there is always a mixture, so depending on the mix a person acts accordingly.

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