A questioner asks Acharya Prashant about the fleeting nature of peace experienced through self-inquiry. He explains that after watching the speaker's videos, he would question his tension, which would temporarily subside, bringing a moment of joy, only to return after a few minutes. He seeks to understand how to make this peace last. Acharya Prashant clarifies that this kind of peace is unsustainable because it is an "ideological peace" or a "dualistic peace." He uses the analogy of a wave, explaining that just as a crest is followed by a trough, a wave of tension is followed by a valley of peace. This peace, he asserts, has no real value. It is a product of thought, much like positive thinking, where one thinks something to feel calm. He states that thought itself is like a tide; a high tide of sorrow will naturally be followed by a low tide of peace, not because one has thought something profound or correct. He emphasizes that true peace is not so cheap that it can be obtained merely by thinking; it demands the sacrifice of one's entire life. Many people come to him after watching his videos, which is a good starting point, but the spiritual work is not limited to just listening (Shravan). The complete process involves listening (Shravan), contemplation (Manan), deep meditation (Nididhyasan), and finally, living the truth (Jeevan), which he equates to enlightenment (Samadhi). He points out that while the questioner has engaged in listening and contemplation, he has not yet begun to live the truth. Acharya Prashant cautions against the misconception that the spiritual path is an instant process. People might think watching a few videos over a few months or a year is enough, but that is just the tip of the iceberg and not even a warm-up. It takes years of dedicated living for the real journey to even begin. He reflects on the irony of the medium, stating that while YouTube helps disseminate the message, it also trivializes it by placing it alongside instant-gratification content. This work, he concludes, is of a completely different dimension, and it is a tragedy of our times that it must be conveyed through such a platform.
