Acharya Prashant addresses the fundamental human question, "What should I do?" which manifests in various life situations. He provides examples such as being uninterested in work while being unable to bear the plight of one's children, wanting to be a writer but having a job, being in love with someone from a different caste against the family's wishes, or understanding spiritual teachings but remaining inactive. He notes that when the body is satisfied or when one earns money, one tends to become complacent and inactive. Similarly, people's actions, like their dietary habits, are often dictated by family or societal norms without individual thought. One might eat meat because their family does, or abstain for the same reason. Likewise, one might quit their studies for love, considering love to be a greater pursuit. Acharya Prashant states that in his fifteen years of public life, having met lakhs of people and answered thousands of questions, he has found that almost every question, directly or indirectly, boils down to "What should I do?". People first describe their situation as a problem and then ask for a solution. This question, "What should I do?", is the most fundamental question for a human being. In philosophical terms, it is the question, "What is my Dharma?". The common person's query, "Tell me, what should I do now?" is the same as asking about one's Dharma. The issue is not that one doesn't know what to do next, but that they don't want to examine what they have been doing that has led them to their current predicament. The problem lies in having lived a life of doing without knowing. The speaker explains that thinkers have identified three forces that influence our actions: the body, society, and coincidence. These three are collectively called 'Prakriti' (Nature). Following the dictates of these three is called 'Paradharma' (another's dharma or duty). The first is 'Deha Dharma' (body's dharma), which includes fulfilling bodily urges like eating and sleeping. The second is 'Samaj Dharma' (society's dharma), which means following traditions and what others are doing, relieving the individual from the need to think. The third is 'Sanyog Dharma' (dharma of coincidence), which is opportunism—doing whatever is convenient or in vogue. These three—body, society, and coincidence—are the three elements of Prakriti, and following them is Paradharma. Quoting Shri Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3, Verse 35), Acharya Prashant explains that 'Paradharma is fraught with fear' (Paradharmo bhayavahah). He clarifies that Paradharma is not the religion of one's neighbor but refers to the dharma of the body, society, and coincidence. He further quotes, 'It is better to die in one's own dharma' (Svadharme nidhanam shreyah), emphasizing that even if it leads to death, one should not follow these three dharmas. Before one can be told what their Dharma is, it is essential to understand what is not their Dharma. The root of all suffering is following Paradharma, which is the path of the body, society, and coincidence, because life demands a correct answer, not an old one.
