Acharya Prashant addresses a question about the meaning of hard work in spirituality, referencing quotes from Lao Tzu and Ramana Maharishi. He begins by clarifying that the concept of "non-action" is not about laziness but about the nature of existence, which has two dimensions: the center (the heart, the true Self, or Atma) and the periphery (the total expanse of Prakriti, or nature). The center, or Atma, is characterized by non-action; it is the non-doer (Akarta) and does not move. In contrast, the periphery, which is the realm of time and space, is in constant motion and activity. The sage is one in whom these two dimensions have a healthy relationship. The sage's actions are intense and unceasing, yet they are governed by the non-action of the center. This means that while a lot of activity happens through the sage, there is no false actor or doer claiming credit for it. The action happens on its own, by virtue of the non-doing center. In contrast, the common person also has this non-doing center, but it is obscured by a multitude of false, conflicting centers, which constitute the ego. These false centers are eager to claim doership, leading to internal conflict and a lack of harmony. The common person is not one but many, like a centipede with each leg wanting to go in its own direction. This internal division results in a lack of integrity and energy. The spiritual process involves the crystallization of these many false centers into one, which can then be surrendered. The speaker clarifies that "hard work" in a spiritual sense is not about physical exertion but about the intensity of the work, which arises from the right center. Right work is the real hard work, as it requires allowing action to happen through oneself without the interference of a doer, a state of non-resistance.