Acharya Prashant explains the teachings of Shri Krishna from the Hansa Gita, emphasizing that the three qualities—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—belong to the intellect and nature, not to the Soul. He clarifies that these qualities represent different levels of the intellect: Sattva is the highest, Rajas is the middle, and Tamas is the lowest. While all three are present in nature, one must use Sattva to overcome Rajas and Tamas, and eventually transcend even Sattva to reach a state of pure consciousness. He describes the interaction of these qualities as a constant struggle for dominance within the mind, where the prevailing quality determines an individual's state of being. The speaker defines ignorance not as a lack of knowledge, but as false or illusory knowledge. Both Rajas and Tamas are rooted in this ignorance and lead to suffering; Rajas manifests as restless activity and a sense of doership, while Tamas manifests as passivity, intoxication, and delusion. Sattva, being based on true knowledge, is capable of defeating the other two, but it is often avoided because it is 'expensive' and 'dangerous' to the ego. It requires the sacrifice of one's delusions and the pride associated with being a 'doer.' Consequently, Sattvic individuals are rare because most people prefer the comfort of their false identities over the liberating but ego-shattering truth. Acharya Prashant asserts that true spirituality is not about minor self-improvements but is a 'Great Death' of the old self. He argues that liberation is not a mandatory rule of existence but a result of an intense inner longing and a deep distaste for one's own false nature. To change, one must possess a fierce dispassion and even a sense of repulsion toward their old, dishonest self. He concludes that while existence allows everyone the freedom to remain in bondage and suffering, those who are truly tired of their falsehood must embrace the transformative power of true knowledge to achieve liberation.
