On YouTube
सर, आप हमसे इतने अलग कैसे? || आचार्य प्रशांत, वेदांत महोत्सव ऋषिकेश में (2022)
92.8K views
3 years ago
Choice
Vedanta
Maya
Upanishads
Saints' teachings
Kabir Saheb
Love
Ignorance
Description

Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the difference in understanding between a seeker and a teacher. He explains that this difference is not due to any natural discrimination but is a matter of one's own choices. He refutes the idea that he had any inherent advantage, stating that it was perhaps even more difficult for him to turn inwards as he was surrounded by the world's greatest attractions, which were readily available to him. He describes the power of Maya (the world of illusion) and its temptations as a dangerous and helpless situation, which was his own great difficulty. Everyone faces their own unique challenges and difficulties. The crucial point is not to compare or list these difficulties but to recognize the power of choice. The speaker emphasizes that he made a choice, and the questioner can also make that choice. Excuses about not being smart enough or not having the right understanding are futile. The choice is a matter of one's own will and love; it cannot be forced and has no set formula. It is a decision that must be made repeatedly. The joy of being human is that the option to choose is always open, and the compulsion is also that the option to choose is always open, meaning you can make a mistake at any time. Regarding the perceived simplicity of the Saints' words compared to the Upanishads, the speaker clarifies that the true meaning of the Saints' teachings is also rooted in Vedanta. Without understanding Vedanta, one can only grasp a superficial meaning. For instance, Kabir Saheb's couplets are not literal but speak of profound concepts like Brahman, Maya, the ego, and duality. The 'coolness' mentioned in his couplets refers to freedom from the 'fever' of suffering, a concept explained in the Gita. Vedanta is the key that unlocks the deeper meaning of the Saints' teachings. He advises taking small risks in life, learning to be courageous, and reducing the calculation of profit and loss. Acknowledging one's own ignorance is in itself a great form of knowledge.