Acharya Prashant addresses a research scientist's concern regarding the ego and personal gain associated with her professional success. He explains that human motivation can be understood at different levels. The lowest level is seeking personal pleasure even at the cost of harming others. A slightly better level involves helping others but demanding a much greater personal reward in return. He suggests moving toward a higher state of alignment, where one's personal desires are synchronized with the broader good. In this state, one grants themselves the right to enjoy only when others are also benefiting, ensuring that personal happiness and the welfare of others are not mutually exclusive. He notes that while the highest state involves complete selflessness and total surrender to the divine will—where one works without concern for personal outcomes—reaching a stage of alignment is a significant and practical step forward. By ensuring that one's own fulfillment is tied to the fulfillment of others, an individual can move away from pure selfishness toward a more meaningful existence.
