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गृहस्थी बसा ली, और मन भी नहीं लगता || आचार्य प्रशांत, वेदांत पर (2021)
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4 years ago
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Kabir Saheb
Knowledge vs. Ignorance
Love
Seeker (Sadhak)
Household Life (Grihasthi)
Youth
Consciousness
Description

Acharya Prashant advises a person feeling trapped in household life to live as if it were someone else's household. He explains that people often smile at others' problems, and one should adopt this same detached perspective towards their own situation, as there is no other option left at this stage. He emphasizes that this is why he is particularly keen on speaking to the youth, to prevent them from reaching a point where no choices remain. Youth is the age when many paths are still open, and it is unwise to let life reach a stage where changing course becomes extremely painful. He stresses that if one can become aware, it is best to do so at the very beginning. Citing Kabir Saheb, Acharya Prashant explains, "Having a body is a punishment." He clarifies that this refers not only to one's own birth but also to bringing another person into one's life, as in a family. This punishment, he says, befalls everyone. The solution, as per the verse, is that "The wise one endures it with knowledge, while the ignorant one endures it by crying." Since the responsibility has already been taken, the only way forward is to endure it with knowledge, understanding it as the play of nature and illusion, and to smile through it. The deeper one delves into knowledge, the lesser the suffering will be. Addressing a follow-up question about love, Acharya Prashant distinguishes it from feelings like compassion or friendliness. He quotes Kabir Saheb, stating that true love is only for that which elevates one's consciousness and leads to the Truth—"The path on which you meet the master, that is called love." For a seeker (Sadhak), love must be one-pointed and reserved for the ultimate goal. This is different from the love of an enlightened person (Siddha), which is like sunshine for everyone. A seeker should not have a scattered love but can maintain friendliness towards others, viewing them as fellow travelers.