Acharya Prashant revisits the basic concepts of the deed and the doer, or action and the actor. He references Shri Krishna's teaching to Arjun, where it is stated that all that is ever happening is due to the three gunas (qualities) of Prakriti (primal matter or nature). However, the foolish one thinks that he is the doer. This same teaching is reflected in the Upanishadic verse at hand, although the Gita is more elaborate. While the Upanishad says, "You are not the doer," Shri Krishna elaborates by stating, "You are not the doer; Prakriti is the doer." All doing, the speaker explains, is in the domain of the false 'I' or ego. Doing happens only when there is a need to do. All our doing is 'sakam' (with desire), arising out of need or desire. The false 'I' acts because it feels that there is a requirement that can be met by acting. The ego believes that doing will take it somewhere, as it is convinced it is not alright where it currently is. It wants to reach a state of completion because it feels incomplete. The more you act to reach somewhere and gain completion, the more you convince yourself, through your actions, that you are indeed the incomplete one. Incompleteness, which is a tendency, becomes a certified fact when it turns into your action and your life. This creates a self-created trap and loop for the ego. It tries hard to break out but does not succeed, much like a man in a quagmire who sinks deeper the more he struggles. This is the situation of the ego, and it is a fundamental falseness. The more it acts from its own position, the more reinforced it gets. Its own purpose is defeated, which is why it is called a fool. Foolishness is acting against yourself, working very hard to hit yourself very hard, and even being proud of it. The ego works hard to keep paining itself. Since the ego cannot blame itself for its suffering, it must blame someone else, inventing enemies or blaming fate. The ego is a meddlesome entity that loves to get involved in things that have nothing to do with it, which is the root cause of all suffering.
