Acharya Prashant explains that motives are not optional but are inherent to the current state of the human mind. He describes motives as images of the future that arise from a disturbed and insecure mind. When a person is truly contented or deeply immersed in the present moment, motives naturally disappear because they always pertain to a future goal or target. Therefore, the presence of many motives indicates a mind that is restless and perceives a deficiency in the present. He argues that motives are often based on flawed assumptions and perceived diseases that do not actually exist. Even if a problem were real, the mind's tendency to seek a solution years into the future is illogical, as a present ailment requires a present cure. He identifies greed and a sense of incompleteness as the roots of all motives. A mind that feels inferior uses that very inferiority as an engine to drive its actions, creating a convoluted path to a future state of respect or success. Finally, Acharya Prashant addresses the misconception that work requires a motive. He suggests that while most people work out of sadness or a sense of lack, it is entirely possible to work out of joy and health. Working without a motive means working from a state of completeness rather than using work as a means to fix a perceived internal flaw. He encourages moving away from an artificial drive fueled by inferiority toward a more natural state of peaceful action.
