Acharya Prashant clarifies the distinction between the essence and the expression of a saint, using the words of Lal Ded as a starting point. He explains that while a saint is pure silence and goalless at their center, their physical manifestation in the world must operate within the constraints of space, time, and language. He emphasizes that the essence of a saint like Kabir Saheb or Lal Ded is not their physical body or historical life, but the source from which they originate. Therefore, a saint's outward actions may appear result-oriented or calculative, as they must use the language and laws of the world to communicate and function effectively. He warns against confusing the unmoving center with the active periphery, noting that true spirituality involves participating fully in the world while remaining untouched by it. Acharya Prashant further discusses the concept of 'Leela', where one participates in the world without being ruled by it, as opposed to 'Maya', where the world dominates the individual. He cites examples like Shri Krishna, who strategized in battle and loved deeply, and Swami Vivekananda, who focused on numbers and results to achieve his mission. He argues that spirituality is not a refuge for failure or laziness; rather, a truly spiritual person is an unstoppable force, capable of both fighting and loving with deep fearlessness. He critiques the common perception of spirituality as being otherworldly or passive, asserting that one should chase goals with full intensity while maintaining an inner realization of completeness and goallessness. Ultimately, he encourages being fully present and surrendered to the truth, which allows for effective and truthful participation in the affairs of the world.
