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What does man really want? Why does he not get it? || Acharya Prashant, on Guru Kabir (2019)
Acharya Prashant
1.9K views
7 years ago
Kabir Saheb
Fulfillment
Desire
Jealousy
Ego
Truth
Devotion
Human Suffering
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that every human action, from mundane tasks like wearing a new dress to professional goals, is fundamentally a search for fulfillment, which is another name for God. However, because humans are limited by physical and mental conditions, they seek this infinite fulfillment in finite, material things. He compares our situation to a newborn baby who has a deep need for comfort but can only express it through crying; similarly, humans have a deep need for the divine but can only express it through worldly exchanges and desires. Kabir Saheb identifies lust and ire as primary enemies because they are rooted in desire, which acts like an obedient but incompetent servant that brings you material goods but never the contentment you actually need. Acharya Prashant highlights that jealousy is particularly destructive because it fills the mind with the image of someone despised, effectively making that person the center of one's consciousness. He notes the paradox of the human ego: while we claim to seek the truth, we insist on using our own cleverness and 'darkness' to find it, rather than following the guidance of the 'light' itself. This resistance to divine guidance stems from the ego's desire to remain an equal to the beloved rather than a devotee who must dissolve into the truth. The ego fears that accepting help would prove its inferiority and lead to its eventual dissolution. Finally, he interprets Kabir Saheb's metaphor of the detached leaf as a reminder of the brevity of life, urging the seeker to make the best use of their limited time before it is gone forever.