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How much money is enough? || Acharya Prashant, at Goa University (2022)
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3 years ago
Sensitivity
Self-observation
Purposefulness
Consciousness
Renunciation
Liberation
Selfishness
Practice (Abhyas)
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that sensitivity is the way to know when one has accumulated enough. He states that we do not consume or do things for their own sake, but to gain something valuable and lasting from the action. However, this aim is often forgotten, and we begin to think that things are ends in themselves. This leads to endless accumulation without ever inquiring whether the accumulation is actually delivering anything of value. The speaker advises that one must be careful and cultivate the habit of self-observation, which he refers to as 'practice' (Abhyas). This involves constantly asking oneself, "What am I getting from this?" Initially, this requires discipline, but eventually, it becomes an act of love. This approach is described as being "sublimely selfish," which is necessary because humans are born deficient, sick, and in bondage. It is our responsibility to selfishly think about how to heal and liberate ourselves. Therefore, every action must be performed in the shadow of the question, "What is it for?" Contrary to some traditional spiritual views that life should be purposeless, the speaker asserts that for us, life must be very purposeful. The ultimate utility of anything is determined by whether it elevates one's consciousness, not by material gain. One must be prepared to renounce or drop anything that does not serve this purpose. This act of renunciation is at the core of all spirituality. He concludes by using the analogy of a prisoner, stating that one who is in shackles cannot afford to relax or have fun but must be constantly attentive to liberation.