Acharya Prashant addresses the question of how to know what one must do by using the analogy of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa. After leading a civil movement in South Africa for nearly two decades, Gandhi was advised by his mentor, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, to have no public life for at least one year. Gokhale instructed him to abstain from action and instead observe, watch, travel, and get to know the country. The rationale was that India is a vast land, and one cannot blindly rush into anything. However, Gandhi, being in his 40s and well-equipped with experience, could not afford to wait too long. His expertise needed to be put to the service of the nation, but not in a rushed, immediate manner. Thus, the advice was to take a one-year sabbatical. Gandhi, who considered Gokhale his teacher, followed this advice and dedicated himself to studying the vast country. He read, met people, and traveled extensively to understand the Indian landscape. After this period of preparation, he began to get a handle on things, which eventually led to the Champaran movement. The speaker notes that while the opportunity for the Champaran movement might have been an accident, such "solemn accidents" only happen to those who are prepared. Even if one is unsure of the exact action to take, like Gandhi was, the first step is preparation. Connecting this to the present, the speaker asserts that one's sincerity is judged by the background work they do. One cannot claim to be concerned about an issue, for example, climate change, and rush into action as a "social media warrior" or a "placard soldier" without understanding the fundamentals. If you are serious about a cause, you must first do what Gandhi did: read, meet, travel, and observe. Today, with the information age, this is far easier. Action must be founded on a basis of understanding. Without it, any action will lack momentum, longevity, and true sincerity. The speaker's final advice is to study first, and then act with total commitment and determination.