A questioner expresses his dilemma about the teachings of integrity and honesty he received from his teachers. He feels these values have caused him harm in worldly life, as he sees his less scrupulous classmates becoming financially successful and being praised by society and even his own parents, while he, a primary school teacher, is considered a failure. He feels an attachment to these teachings but finds them irrelevant and asks how to let go of them. Acharya Prashant responds by explaining that the teachings of gurus and scriptures are fundamentally against comparison. The fact that the questioner is pained by comparing himself to others indicates that the teachings have not been truly grasped. He clarifies that the loss experienced is not due to following the path of truth, but because of a lack of complete devotion to it. If there is still room in the mind for such thoughts, it means one has not fully embraced the teachings. Acharya Prashant elaborates on 'Satyanishtha' (devotion to truth), stating it means being so absorbed in the truth that one forgets everything else, including worldly comparisons. He likens it to being in love, where one becomes oblivious to others. He shares his personal experience of being "lost" to the world for 15 years, unaware of his peers' successes, because he was engrossed in his own pursuit. The problem, he asserts, is not having devotion to truth, but having too little of it. He also points out that if one's family sees true strength and beauty in their path, they will eventually offer support. Responding to a related question about work, Acharya Prashant defines 'work' (Karma) as an action that refines one's life, not merely a means to earn money. He distinguishes it from 'labor' (shram), which animals also perform. The true purpose of human 'karma' is 'mukti' (liberation), which is synonymous with 'anand' (bliss). If one's work does not lead towards liberation, it is a waste of time and energy. Choosing a job one dislikes for money is a bad bargain, trading the possibility of immense bliss for low-level pleasure. Regarding liabilities and responsibilities, Acharya Prashant states that the primary liability is towards one's own liberation. If you are not right yourself, you cannot properly fulfill your duties to others. He concludes by saying that it is up to each individual to decide how much they want from life. Vedanta, he explains, is for the "ultra-ambitious" who seek the infinite, which lies beyond the limited world, because everything in the world is finite.
