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You, as the doer, are unnecessary || Acharya Prashant, on Vivekachudamani (2018)
Acharya Prashant
2.9K views
6 years ago
Action
Doership
Prakriti
Ego
Brahman
Freedom
Success and Failure
Responsibility
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that being connected to one's actions typically involves expectations, where an individual seeks to protect or gain something valuable through their deeds. This connection creates a sense of responsibility and pressure to perform perfectly, leading to feelings of being crushed or ashamed. He suggests that true freedom comes when one remains distant from their actions, allowing the limbs and speech to function without the interference of a 'doer' consciousness. Success and failure are merely pre-programmed labels attached to these connections, and a sage remains unaffected by them. He further elaborates that action is the inherent nature of the universe, as no atom is ever truly still. Movement and action occur naturally through Prakriti (nature) and do not require the intervention of the ego. Acharya Prashant distinguishes between 'doing' and 'doership,' noting that doership is the false assumption that one is the responsible agent behind an action. He argues that the human ego is an unnecessary middleman; the physical body takes orders from Prakriti, while the spiritual essence takes orders from the divine. By attempting to control these processes, humans only create distortion and trouble. Finally, the speaker emphasizes that one should have the courage to acknowledge their own lack of necessity in the grand scheme of action. He uses the example of breathing and speaking to show that when the individual 'doer' steps aside, the real source can act more smoothly. He asserts that the ego's desire for importance makes it a hindrance to the natural and divine flow of life. By letting go of the need to dictate and regulate, one allows the true masters—Nature and the Divine—to function without interference.