Acharya Prashant explains that the core of a human being is their innate intelligence and the ability to understand. He distinguishes between 'core', 'gloss', and 'mask', stating that gloss is a natural radiance resulting from the core's intelligence, while a mask is a superficial appearance borrowed from outside when the core is hidden by conditioning. He challenges the conventional notion of hard work, arguing that it is often a result of conditioning and that understanding and enjoyment are the true keys to excellence. He posits that for conscious beings, intelligence and joy are essential for understanding, and that true hard work should not be a forced effort but a spontaneous occurrence arising from playfulness and immersion in an activity. He emphasizes that intelligence is not information but the inherent ability to observe and understand whatever is happening.
