On YouTube
The success stories of ambitious people: Be careful! || Acharya Prashant, at BITS Goa (2023)
Breaking Free
4.9K views
1 year ago
Ambition
Desire
Success
Biological Conditioning
Freedom of Mind
Love
Role Models
Fulfillment
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses the concept of ambition, challenging the common perception of success stories and role models. He explains that many so-called success stories are heavily curated and edited narratives that do not reflect the internal reality of the individuals. He points out that many people considered role models suffer from internal turmoil, leading to issues like suicide, crime, or substance abuse, which suggests their achievements lack true worth. He advises young people not to be gullible or enslaved by the captivating visuals and narratives presented on screens, as these stories are minutely manufactured and often do not allow for critical questioning. He defines ambition as simply a large-scale desire, fundamentally no different from basic wants. He argues that ambition is rooted in animalistic biological conditioning, comparing the pursuit of territory and material gain to the behavior of dogs marking their borders. He suggests that ambition is an amplification of animal nature rather than a uniquely human pursuit. Instead of being driven by the cyclical and often demotivating energy of ambition, he encourages living through the energy of love. This means finding fulfillment in the work itself rather than targeting an imaginary fulfillment in the distant future, such as an IPO or a financial exit. Acharya Prashant emphasizes the importance of freedom of mind and liberty of consciousness. He warns that thoughts and emotions are often not one's own but are products of biological conditioning or social influence. He urges the youth to create a fresh life script rather than following the old, borrowed scripts of their ancestors or the marketplace. He concludes by challenging the audience to seek something fundamentally new in their lives, rather than just superficially changing their sources of income or repeating the same patterns of desire and consumption that have existed for generations.