The pursuit of spiritual and personal fulfillment is an important theme in Breakfast with Buddha, encapsulated by Otto’s evolving journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Initially rooted in a worldview marked by skepticism and pragmatism, Otto gradually enters a quest for deeper meaning and understanding. This transformation is portrayed through his introspective thoughts and the conversations he shares with Rinpoche. The enigmatic nature of enlightenment and self-realization is acknowledged, suggesting that answers to life’s deepest questions are revealed in unexpected ways and times, demanding openness and acceptance from the seeker:

You ask a certain question again and again, in a sincere fashion, and the answer appears. But, in my experience, at least, that answer arrives according to its own mysterious celestial timing, and often in disguise. And it comes in a way you’re not prepared for, or don’t want, or can’t, at first, accept (5).

This theme’s development is underscored by the novel’s structure, in which the road trip is a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Like Otto’s and Rinpoche’s road trip, the novel portrays spiritual pursuit as nonlinear and unpredictable, emphasizing the importance of being open to the unknown and unexpected.