Acharya Prashant clarifies the relationship between desire and suffering, asserting that desire does not give birth to suffering; rather, suffering is the mother of desire. He explains that one only desires happiness or liberation when they already perceive themselves to be in a state of sorrow or bondage. Therefore, suffering precedes desire. He defines suffering not as an objective reality, but as a self-imposed mental state or a concept. If suffering were an objective truth, it would persist even during deep sleep, yet it vanishes when the conscious state changes. Suffering is merely a self-determined condition of the mind where one decides to feel incomplete or weak. He references the teachings of Gautama Buddha, emphasizing that the 'self' and its associated miseries are 'shunyata' or void. Suffering is so illusory that one can induce it simply by dwelling on morbid memories or remove its influence by focusing on achievements. Since human life, society, and even global conflicts are often built on the foundation of perceived lack and the urge to fulfill it, Acharya Prashant describes such a life as baseless. He argues that one cannot fight suffering because fighting it acknowledges it as a reality. Just as one must wake up from a dream rather than fight the characters within it, one must transcend suffering by recognizing its hollowness. The solution lies in moving beyond suffering rather than engaging with it. Acharya Prashant advises that trying to forget or fight sorrow only gives it more attention and strength. Instead, one should prioritize what is truly essential and move forward. By rising to a higher level of consciousness, past memories and sorrows lose their impact. Suffering may still be experienced as a sensation, but it ceases to be important or influential when one remains dedicated to necessary actions and leaves the sorrow behind.
