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गुड़ इकट्ठा करोगे तो मक्खियाँ भी झेलोगे || आचार्य प्रशांत, अवधूत गीता पर (2020)
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5 years ago
Avadhuta Gita
Accumulation
Attachment
Suffering
Delusion
Dattatreya
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding verses from the Avadhuta Gita that advise against accumulation (sangrah) and hoarding (sanchay). The questioner points out a perceived contradiction, as their personal experience suggests that accumulation for life's security, family's education, and building a house has been beneficial, while the scripture warns it leads to a difficult life where others enjoy the hoarded wealth. The speaker refutes this contradiction by challenging the questioner's fundamental assumption. He states that the Avadhuta Gita is correct in saying that those who accumulate will suffer, and the questioner has indeed only experienced suffering. The delusion lies in believing that life's so-called achievements, like building a house or raising a family, are sources of happiness. He asserts that these very acts are the suffering the scripture warns against. To illustrate his point, Acharya Prashant uses an analogy: "If your life is full of flies buzzing around, it means you have collected a lot of jaggery (गुड़)." He explains that all the problems and worries in life (the flies) are present because of the accumulation of worldly things (the jaggery). He says, "You are not eating the jaggery; the jaggery is eating you." The flies are not attached to the person but to their possessions. He equates the flies to relationships, status, and family, which seem to be attached to the person but are actually drawn to what has been accumulated. He concludes that what people consider their life's great accomplishments are, in fact, the very stones hanging around their necks. Accepting that a life built on accumulation has been wasted is a bitter truth that requires immense humility. This humility is particularly difficult for those who have spent their lives accumulating wealth and status. He advises that if you remove the jaggery, the flies will also disappear. He also mentions an old African story: "When you find something sweet, eat it. If you eat it, it's yours; if you don't, it belongs to the flies." This is the most fundamental lesson against accumulation.