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Planning vs Spontaneity [Christmas Eve Lesson]
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3 years ago
Planning vs Spontaneity
Freedom
Jesus
Essence
Happiness
Celebration
Adventure
Realization
Description

Acharya Prashant begins by encouraging young people to have a taste for adventure and thrill, suggesting they go on unplanned holidays. He advises them to buy a super-bike instead of a car and just go away somewhere, unplanned, as a challenge to see what happens. He explains that once you get a taste of living freely, without the structure and bondage of a plan, you will no longer like to plan. You will simply say, "I am going, come what may." The speaker then draws a parallel with understanding the essence of teachings. He says that if something is really worth it, its words will sublimate, leaving its essence behind. Magically, even after disappearing, it never disappears and can be called back because it has never gone. It would come back in a new form, with new words, so you can let it go fearlessly. He illustrates this with a story about Jesus on Christmas Eve, who told his disciples he was going to be killed soon. When Peter started weeping, Jesus scolded him, saying, "Had you had anything to do with God, had you learnt anything from me, how could you have thought that I can be killed? I can never go away." Jesus explained that Peter was talking like worldly people who believe in death. He clarified that while his body could be killed, he himself could not be. Therefore, one can fearlessly give away the body, just as one can fearlessly forget the words, knowing the essence will stay. Acharya Prashant further advises to start where you are, without the start having to be heroic or spectacular; it just has to be a start. He points out that by waiting for something grand, like a fabulous holiday, we never start at all and don't allow the mind to experience an inner vacation. The entire year is spent in tense expectation of a year-end vacation. While acknowledging that not every moment can be a vacation, he emphasizes that one can plan, but it's crucial to understand what planning is and where it comes from. He explains that one does not plan when in a state of joy; planning arises from a sense of lack. He likens a life of fleeting pleasures to a party, which leaves a sorrowful sight of a garbage dump the next morning. Existence, he says, invites us to another kind of party, which requires courage and attention to get out of the normal comfort zone. He concludes by clarifying that he is not rejecting happiness or laughter, which are wonderful, but that the laughter should not be a stupid one. He encourages genuine celebration, not just superficial merry-making.