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Your approach towards Truth decides how life treats you || Acharya Prashant, on Bhagvad Gita (2020)
Scriptures and Saints
600 views
2 years ago
Bhagavad Gita
Shri Krishna
Freedom of Choice
Maya
Karma Phala
Ego
Absolute Truth
Law of Reciprocity
Description

Acharya Prashant explains the profound meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 11, where Shri Krishna states that He favors people in the same manner they approach Him. This verse highlights the absolute freedom given to the ego or the individual self. Since the individual arises from the Absolute, their nature is also absolute freedom. This freedom allows a person to choose their own truth, whether it is the ultimate truth or a false, shallow one. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that Shri Krishna does not impose Himself on anyone; instead, He honors the individual's choice. If one chooses shallowness or Maya, their life will reflect that shallowness, as the Absolute treats the individual exactly as the individual treats the Absolute. The speaker further clarifies the law of Karma Phala within this context. While humans have the freedom to choose their actions and their orientation toward the Divine, they have no choice over the results that follow those choices. If an individual ignores Shri Krishna, they cannot complain when they feel ignored by the Divine, as Shri Krishna is simply reciprocating their own stance. This is described as a commitment to honor the individual's exercise of freedom. Even when people choose Maya, they are still technically on Shri Krishna's path because Maya itself belongs to Him. The choice is between taking a direct path to the Truth or a long, tortuous route through the cycle of birth and death. Finally, Acharya Prashant addresses the necessity of change. While the ultimate destination for every soul is inevitably the Absolute, the variable that remains in human hands is time. One can reach the Truth immediately through a direct path or spend thousands of years wandering through suffering and Maya. Shri Krishna remains available regardless of the time taken, as He exists beyond time. Therefore, the need for change or spiritual practice is not about changing the final destination, but about exercising the discretion to reduce the time spent in suffering and convolution.