Acharya Prashant addresses a question about why Buddha begged for alms despite having thousands of followers. He explains that to understand this, one must refer to the Bhagavad Gita, particularly chapters two and three. He asserts that Buddha is one of the greatest Vedantins, and the tradition of the Upanishads, which is the essence of Vedanta, predates Buddha by several centuries. The concept of begging for alms (Bhiksha) was a new idea in India at that time. Acharya Prashant equates the concept of 'Prasad' (offering) from the Gita with 'Bhiksha' (alms) in Buddha's philosophy. The common principle is that one does not earn for oneself, nor does one know what or how much one will receive. Shri Krishna says in the Gita that one who does not live life like a 'Yajna' (sacrifice) will suffer greatly, and one who consumes for themselves without first offering everything in sacrifice is a thief. 'Yajna' here does not mean a fire ritual but dedicating one's life, labor, intellect, and all resources to the highest, the divine. Buddha understood this essence of the Gita profoundly. He explains that being a 'Bhikshu' (monk) is a practical application of this principle. While the concept of 'Prasad' could be misused, as the entity to whom the offering is made might be a creation of one's own mind, the practice of 'Bhiksha' makes it more practical and less prone to corruption. Buddha made the concept of 'Yajna' more practical by introducing 'Bhiksha'. He gave up everything—his palace, his family—and dedicated his life to teaching people. By begging, he was essentially leaving his survival in the hands of society. If society wanted him to live, it would give him alms. This establishes a beautiful, loving relationship between the individual and the collective. Being a 'Bhikshu' is not about the external attire but about an internal state of being empty of ego. It is a way of life. Quoting Kabir, he says, "What does it cost me to offer you what is already yours?" and Agyeya, "I became the offering and saw, this is the flame of the sacrifice of love." This is the essence of 'Yajna' and 'Bhikshutva' (the state of being a monk). It is not that Buddha stopped working; he worked tirelessly, establishing a large Sangha (community) with its own rules and procedures. The point was to stop acquiring for oneself. The work is done with full effort, but not for oneself.