When this changes, that changes || Acharya Prashant, with youth (2013)
Question: Is it possible to change ‘that’ (the outer world) by changing ‘this’ (the mind)?
Acharya Prashant: Yes! They are related. When the quality of the mind changes, the world also changes. Haven’t you heard this? *‘Jaisi drishti waisi shrishti ’*? Change ‘this’ (the mind ) and ‘that’ (the world) also changes. We never look at things as they really are.
This world is our projection, in many senses, in many ways. The moment there is a change ‘here’ (the mind); there would surely be a corresponding change ‘there'(the world) as well. But one must begin ‘here'(the mind). Go for that beginning. Don’t keep wishing that something must change ‘there'(the world). You know we have so many people who think that we can have more virtue, more goodness in the world by changing things ‘there'(the world). They say change systems, remove corruption etc. and that is how the world will become a better place.
What they do not realize is that the world starts ‘here'(the mind). The world is fundamentally ‘this'(the mind). Unless the mind of man is changed it will not help, whether you pass a resolution in the parliament or you make few laws or you do anything else. Corruption is ‘here'(the mind). ‘This'(the mind) is what is corrupted. An influenced mind is a corrupted mind. ‘This'(the mind) is what ought to change and then the world will change automatically.
Are you getting it?
Listener 1: Yes sir.
AP: Alright!
Excerpted from a ‘Shabd-Yog’ session. Edited for clarity.