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Love is not natural, Love has to be learnt || Acharya Prashant, at BITS Goa (2023)
Shakti
2.7K views
1 year ago
Love
Attachment
Devotion
Insight
Prakriti
Procreation
Spirituality
Meditation
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that what is commonly perceived as love is often merely a natural, biological attraction driven by hormones and physical attachment. He asserts that anything occurring naturally, such as the impulses of puberty or the instinct for procreation, belongs to the domain of bondage and the animalistic 'jungle' rather than true love. He challenges the audience to recognize that if physical intimacy were removed from the equation, most marriages would not exist, proving that such unions are based on consumption and possession rather than a higher spiritual connection. He warns against using the word 'natural' to justify behavior, noting that human life is meant to rise above biological conditioning rather than succumb to it. True love, according to Acharya Prashant, is not an innate biological drive but something that must be learned and earned through spiritual pursuit. He describes the mind as a thirsty entity that seeks peace, and true love is that which quenches this thirst by bringing clarity and reality. He critiques common forms of attachment, such as maternal possessiveness or the 'love' for a pet that involves consuming other animals, labeling these as ownership rather than love. He emphasizes that love is a destructive force that clears away the 'rubbish' of the unreal to reveal the truth. Finally, the speaker redefines devotion, suggesting it is not limited to religious rituals or temples. He argues that a scientist committed to truth or a practitioner dedicated to their craft is performing an act of devotion. He encourages the development of insight to see beyond the visible and the cosmetic. To truly love is to have the insight to perceive reality beneath the apparent, transforming one's actions and environment into a meditative and devotional space.