Acharya Prashant explains the difference between the controlled environment of a campus and the unpredictability of the real world. He notes that when one steps out into the world at the age of 21-24, there is a sudden realization of this change. On campus, there is a clear correlation between hard work and marks; the correlation coefficient between input and output is quite high. The input variables needed to achieve a desired output are clearly known. However, in the outside world, there are so many variables that one doesn't know which thing is dictating another. In such a situation, one may not know what to do, but one knows what not to do: one cannot live as a beggar for results. You cannot think that you will consider yourself content only when the result comes according to your expectations. This is because so many innumerable things go into that result. Moreover, you have no control over 99% of those things, and it's not your fault. Nature is like that. Therefore, a rule of life is that those who live result-oriented lives will always be sad, hurt, and troubled. Even if they work very hard, they will be frustrated because life does not run on your honesty; life has its own other rules. Those who have understood this have given the advice of Nishkam Karma (action without attachment to the fruits). As Shri Krishna says, "Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana" (You have a right to your actions, but never to its fruits). Your right is only on your action, not on the result, because the result is a function of infinite variables. You don't even know how many variables there are. The universe is not a controlled system; it's an ever-expanding universe with ever-expanding entropy and randomness. You want to control this totally unpredictable and unknown world, which is not possible. Therefore, do the right work with full dedication and do not look at the outcome. The result of that work is the work itself. The joy is in doing the right thing, and that is the maximum result.
