Inner Voice

प्रश्नकर्ता: आचार्य जी, जिस तरह से दैत्यों की सेना के बारे में बताया है कि करोड़ों की संख्या में और बहुत पावरफुल (शक्तिशाली), बहुत सारे सैनिक हैं तो ये क्या जो हमारी वृत्तियाँ हैं उसकी पावर (शक्ति) के बारे में बताया जा रहा है?

आचार्य प्रशांत: बिलकुल, बिलकुल वही है।… read_more

Your Best Kept Secret is Out || AP Neem Candies

3 min

Acharya Prashant: You can not win the mind, you can not cater to the mind, you can not control the mind. And you are not responsible for everything that this ancient mind does. A thousand squirrels are sitting here, and five hundred monkeys, and the extinct dinosaur, and all the… read_more

How do I Retain this Beautiful Silence?

6 min

Questioner: While writing the questions about our lives, we were silent and it feels very peaceful right now. But how to maintain this silence? How to make sure that this silence holds, that it is not momentary?

Acharya Prashant: It is apparent that this silence is conducive to understanding. It… read_more

The Prettiest Girl, and the Ugliest Woman || AP Neem Candies

8 min

Acharya Prashant: A king once asked his favorite painter, the royal painter to paint him the face of the most beautiful individual in the kingdom. So, the painter set out looking for the most innocent face in the kingdom. And he chanced upon a little girl, he chanced upon a… read_more

What Is the Ego? || AP Neem Candies

4 min

Acharya Prashant: You are walking along an empty street in the middle of the night—nobody around you, nobody to really disturb you, nobody to talk to you, nobody to point to you, nobody to intercept you, nobody to remind you of anything, and still do you see how much keeps… read_more

The One Thing You Must Never Lose

12 min

Acharya Prashant: Chandogya Upanishad — Chapter 3, part 11, verses 2 and 3:

न वै तत्र न निम्लोच नोदियाय कदाचन । देवास्तेनाहंसत्येन मा विराधिषि ब्रह्मणेति ॥ ३.११.२ ॥

na vai tatra na nimloca nodiyāya kadācana | devāstenāhaṃsatyena mā virādhiṣi Brahmaṇeti || 3.11.2 ||

Never does this happen there; never did… read_more

The Secrets of the World

6 min

The world is like an open book to the one whose eyes are open; if you cannot read the world, then you have to look at yourself first, then you have to be mindful of your own condition. Read more...

A Spiritual Method for the Courageous Ones!

9 min

Questioner: So, do you teach any Sādhanā through which your disciples and followers can access this inner Witness through which they can constantly de-attach themselves from the world which they are experiencing.

Acharya Prashant: Know what you are doing currently, first of all, that’s what is needed. Anything begins when… read_more

बोधस्थल आपको आप तक लाता है || आचार्य प्रशांत, बोधस्थल के उद्घाटन पर (2017)

6 min

आचार्य प्रशांत: आपके और इस आश्रम के बारे में, आपके और संसार के बारे में, आपके और मेरे बारे में, कुछ बातें समझ लेना ज़रूरी है। आप किसी बाहरी जगह पर नहीं आये हैं, लगता ऐसा ही है। पर इंसान की आँखों का कुछ खास भरोसा किया जा नहीं सकता।… read_more

Why does one get trapped in false spirituality? || Acharya Prashant, on 'The Fountainhead' (2019)

5 min

Question: Acharya Ji, Pranaam! People’s faces and vocal tonality show what they mean in actuality. But people like Toohey (one of the principal characters in Ayn Rand’s novel ‘The Fountainhead’) have control on their emotions like an actor. They dumb down our intellect using emotions.

How to recognise such people… read_more

What is meant by inner voice? || (2015)

3 min

Questioner (Q): Sir, how can we define the ‘inner voice’? We obviously talk to ourselves!

Acharya Prashant (AP): There is no need to define ‘the inner voice’. You just have to see that it too is only just a voice. As there are so many voices all around you, this… read_more

Any concept of God is not God at all. Drop the concept and surrender || Acharya Prashant (2015)

21 min

Acharya Prashant: Prasanna (a very young listener) is asking, who is the first-first God in this world? Why am I like this? Why did God make me?

Why did we start today’s session by talking of God? Why are we starting this session by talking of God? It could have… read_more

What is love? ||Neem Candies

1 min

Love is not a want, and love is not an obligation. Love is not at all related to the world around you. Love is, first and foremost, your own state of being.

Forget that love has to do anything with anybody outside. Forget about loving somebody. Turn inwards, look within,… read_more

Do you know your real self-interest? || Acharya Prashant (2019)

2 min

Questioner: Pranaam Acharya Ji! A month back I asked a question on ‘numbness’, and how it affects my life. You gave me a good lesson on self-centeredness and explained that if I am not able to do much for myself, then I should start working for others so totally, that… read_more

All internal voices are from fragments of the mind, the Total calls only in Silence || Acharya Prashant (2015)

4 min

Question: How to find the right action when the mind is saying aloud: “You should not do this,” or “You have to do this.” One part of the mind is saying, “You have to do this ,” other part is saying, “It is okay, you can do that .”

There… read_more

The voice in my head || Acharya Prashant (2015)

2 min

Question: Sir, what can I do to change my lifestyle?

Answer: Lifestyle is just the collection of all the small things you do throughout the day.

To understand your lifestyle, watch daily, continuously, as much as possible:

With whom are you spending time? What is the effect that the company… read_more

The real meaning of spiritual inquiry || Acharya Prashant (2014)

8 min

Question: Desire is the memory of pleasure, and fear is the memory of pain. Both make the mind restless. Moments of pleasure are merely gaps in the stream of pain. If our natural state is joy, then why do we slip out of this state?

Speaker: When you have slipped… read_more

भूल नहीं, भूल करने वाले पर ध्यान दो || आचार्य प्रशांत, युवाओं के संग (2017)

13 min

प्रश्नकर्ता: कभी-कभी समझ में नहीं आता कि क्या गलती करी, असफलता क्यों मिली, बदलाव कैसे करूँ, तरक्की कैसे करूँ?

आचार्य प्रशांत: जब समझ में न आये कि गलती कहाँ हुई तब गलती खोजना ही बन्द करो। पूरी प्रक्रिया को दोबारा शुरू करो ऐसे जैसे कि पहली बार कर रहे हो।… read_more

सर, आप हिंदी में साइन क्यों करते हैं? || आचार्य प्रशांत (2021)

14 min

प्रश्नकर्ता: आपके साइन (हस्ताक्षर) देखें। आप बिल्कुल सरल तरीके से अपना नाम ही हिंदी में लिख देते हैं। तो आप ऐसे साइन क्यों करते हैं?

आचार्य प्रशांत: आपत्ती क्या है? कुछ उसमें गलत दिख रहा है क्या? दो बातें तुमने कहीं। पहली कि सीधे-सीधे अपना नाम लिख देते हैं और… read_more

ज़िन्दगी जीने के दो तरीक़े || आचार्य प्रशांत, गुरु नानक देव पर (2014)

34 min

संजोगु विजोगु दुइ कार चलावहि लेखे आवहि भाग। ~ जपुजी साहिब (नितनेम)

आचार्य प्रशांत: फ़्री विल (मुक्त इच्छा) भी एब्सोल्यूट्ली फ़्री (पूर्णत: मुक्त) है। आपकी जो फ़्री विल है, वो भी इस मामले में तो बाउन्डेड (सीमित) है ही कि वो आपकी नहीं है। जो आपकी इच्छा है वो तो… read_more

आत्म-साक्षात्कार का झूठ

27 min

आचार्य प्रशांत (आचार्य): जब हम रत्न की बात कर रहे होते हैं और उसकी सफ़ाई करनी है क्योंकि वो मिट्टी में पड़ा था, मैला हो गया है, कीचड़ जम गया है, तो हम कीचड़ की बात ऐसे करते हैं जैसे कि वो कोई बात करने लायक चीज़ ही नहीं है,… read_more

स्वधर्म क्या है? || (2015)

5 min

प्रश्नकर्ता: सर, स्वधर्म क्या है और कहाँ से आता है?

आचार्य प्रशांत: स्वधर्म आपके होने से आता है। कैसे आता है? समझिए। आप जब ‘घर’ में होते हो तो आप कुछ नहीं होते हो। हम कहते हैं न कि तुम ‘घर’ से बिछड़ गए हो। तुम घर से बिछड़ते नहीं… read_more

अंतरात्मा तुम्हारी नहीं

2 min

छात्र: सर, हम अपनी अंतरात्मा की आवाज़ क्यों नहीं सुन पाते? जैसे पहली बार शराब पीने से पहले पता होता है कि गलत है पर रुक नहीं पाते। ऐसा क्यों है?

वक्ता: क्योंकि जो आवाज़ आती है वो सही मायने में अपनी नहीं है। तुम्हें आती है अपनी अंतरात्मा की… read_more

The Afterlife Myth

11 min

Afterlife is not even philosophy; it’s simply theology, present in every major religion. Science today confirms that there is nothing that survives the body. So, for whom are heaven and hell? It only takes one away from the direct realities of life because one is constantly dreaming of the afterlife. It is just an extremely venomous belief system.

श्रीकृष्ण सोलह हज़ार रानियों के साथ एक साथ कैसे?

16 min

सबसे पहले तो ये जो सोलह हज़ार का आँकड़ा है, ये प्रतीक है। ये प्रतीक है अनंतता का। सोलह हज़ार माने बहुत, बहुत सारे। गिने ना जा सकें, इतने। और फिर कहा जा रहा है कि ये जो पूरी अनंतता है, इस पूरे को श्रीकृष्ण उपलब्ध हैं और पूरे-के-पूरे उपलब्ध हैं। रानियों की श्रद्धा है। और श्रीकृष्ण ही ऐसे हैं, मात्र श्रीकृष्ण ही, जिनमें सैंकड़ों, हज़ारों, लाखों लोग पूर्ण श्रद्धा रख सकें। कहानी हमसे कहती है कि तुम यदि सत्य के प्रेमी हो, तो सत्य तुम्हें पूरा-का-पूरा उपलब्ध हो जाएगा। ये बात बस तुम्हारे और सत्य के बीच की है। इसमें कोई और शामिल है नहीं।

There Are No Imperfections, There Are Only Illusions

6 min

Achievement is the central disease, there is something to be achieved. So, develop whether as a verb indicating yourself or your students is actually not very appropriate. There is no question of development. There can only be a realization, that I am already developed. There can only be a realization and that realization; believe me, changes everything. Do not think that after that realization things will remain the same. In a very fundamental way, things will change.

(Gita-28) The Most Misunderstood Verse of the Bhagavad Gita

69 min

Obsession with the future is a compulsion with the ego. The only way to be free of the future is to be free of yourself. Be free of yourself and flow like the wind. But will the right things happen to me then? Can you assure me? Is there a guarantee? So desireless, motiveless action and faith, they always go together. Somebody who's asking for guarantees, somebody who is craving for assurances, he is unfit to even touch the Bhagavad Gita. This is only for the courageous ones.

Is Sartre’s Existentialism Contradicting Gita?

7 min

They don't contradict each other. Existentialists like Sartre argue that humans cannot suppress consciousness and are 'condemned to be free.' We are born without a predetermined purpose—existence precedes essence. You exist first and must then discover your essence. In the spirit of 'Neti Neti' (neither this nor that), no external force can define your essence; it is your freedom to consciously determine what life is for.

Reincarnation: Science or Myth?

6 min

The scientific community takes reincarnation as something of a joke. Studies have been done but those studies have amounted to nothing. When you are living an unfulfilled life then the concept of reincarnation comes as a savior because you think you deserve the bondage and there is no need to fight. It prevents you from bringing meaning to this one life that you have. The Gita too, very forcefully destroys this concept.

Understand Your Dreams, Don't Just Follow

21 min

Dreams arise from internal restlessness and a deep subconscious desire; there is nothing wrong with that. But if that desire is not understood properly, you'll end up chasing the wrong objects, assuming that the objects of your dreams are all that you want. So, don't take your dreams at face value. Go deep and see what your heart really longs for. A hint: dreams can guide you, but only if you read them properly.

Learn to cheat the ego || Acharya Prashant (2019)

8 min

Question: Pranam Acharya ji. Acharya ji, allow me to apologize for the abrupt question last time. I was a little afraid of writing another question. However, I do wish to write. Please talk about it—as I am an avid listener—on what you consider shall be good for me.

Here is… read_more

For Those Who Think a Lot About the Future

6 min

The worst thing is to postpone action and keep worrying or keep thinking, overthinking as you said. So, whenever you find yourself in that mode, the best thing is to ask yourself - isn’t there something that I need to be, rather doing at this moment? Not thinking. Doing!

सौ बार गिरे हो, तो भी याद रहे: स्वभाव अपना उड़ान है, घर अपना आसमान है

51 min

टूटफूट ही वो जरिया है जो आपको बताएगा कि आपके पास कुछ ऐसा भी है जो टूट नहीं सकता। जब सब बिखरा पड़ा होगा उसके बीच ही अचानक आपको पता चलेगा, अरे एक ऐसी चीज है जो नहीं बिखरी बड़ा मजा आएगा। उसके बाद यही लगेगा कि इसको और बार-बार पटको और जितना बार-बार पटको और जितना यह नहीं टूटता उतना इसमें विश्वास और गहरा होता जाता है और आदमी और खुलकर खेलता है। यह सबके पास है। यह सबके पास है। हमें इसका पता इसीलिए नहीं है क्योंकि हमने इसको कभी आजमाया ही नहीं।

Hidden Lies Behind Success, Love, and Ego!

16 min

There's a small secret here. It's not that we do not understand that we are being fooled. We choose to be fooled. When that fellow comes to you and professes his or her love it's not that you do not know that it's not love. It's just that you find it to be a convenient, comfortable bargain. Like masks greeting each other. Truth should be the simplest, easiest, nearest thing.

वामपंथ बनाम दक्षिणपंथ (Left vs Right)

19 min

वामपंथ या दक्षिणपंथ का ठप्पा क्यों लगवाना है? तुम किसी पंथ के लिए थोड़े ही पैदा हुए हो, तुम मुक्ति के लिए पैदा हुए हो। सच के पारखी बनो, विचारधारा के अनुयायी नहीं। ज्ञान सब विचारधाराओं का होना चाहिए, क्योंकि उससे इतिहास की धारा का पता चलता है। लेकिन किसी भी विचारधारा का अनुयायी नहीं बनना है। विचारधारा आपको खुलकर सोचने, देखने और जीने नहीं देती, जैसे आप खूँटे से बँध गए हों। समद्रष्टा रहो—ज्ञान सबका रहे, पर ठप्पा कोई न रहे।

Vedanta: The Cure for Human Misery

6 min

Vedanta is the medicine for the human condition, and the human condition is one of misery. We need to go to Vedanta if we want our welfare. The Upanishads are not ritual- or belief-based but are truly open and free for inquiry. The Vedanti is always saying, "I want to know, and I have faith that knowing is possible, so I keep inquiring."

Astrology: A Myth People Believe

7 min

It has been extremely conclusively proven, demonstrated that astrology is not a science at all. It's a conjecture. It's a belief system. Belief system with no material basis at all.

Is Ignoring Grief the Key to Wisdom?

10 min

No wise man will ever take your problem seriously, believe me. For the wise one, all your problems are bad jokes—not even worthy of a sound laughter. But then he says, "You know, I can see through. You cannot. So, I'll give up my right to laugh at you. I'll instead pretend to be serious." "Yes, yes, yes, of course! We have a problem!" He says, "You know, there was a time I was so much like you. These same things were big issues even to me. But I know they can be outgrown.

कमज़ोर की मदद कैसे करें?

32 min

मदद का एकमात्र अर्थ होता है चेतना को उसके अंजाम तक ले जाना। इसके अलावा मदद का कोई अर्थ नहीं होता। कमज़ोर की सेवा करने का अगर मतलब यह है कि कमज़ोर, कमज़ोर बना रहे, तो यह सेवा नहीं, साज़िश है। कमज़ोर की हमेशा मदद ही नहीं करनी होती, संहार भी बहुत ज़रूरी होता है। दुर्बल की तो एक ही सहायता हो सकती है कि उसको दुर्बल रहने ही मत दो। पर यदि कमज़ोरी ताकत बनना ही नहीं चाहती, तो उसका संहार करना भी सीखो।

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 9

53 min

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्ग: समाचर ||3. 9||

अन्वय: यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र (यज्ञ के लिए किए कर्म के अलावा अन्य कर्म में) लोकोऽयं (लगा हुआ) कर्मबन्धनः (कर्मों के बन्धन में फँसता है) कौन्तेय (हे अर्जुन) मुक्तसङ्गः (आसक्ति छोड़कर) तत्-अर्थ (यज्ञ के लिए) कर्म (कर्म) समाचर (करो)

काव्यात्मक अर्थ: बाँधते … read_more