Acharya Prashant explains that scripture-ordained action means performing one's duty by disregarding personal desires. He distinguishes between desire, which provides immediate but superficial pleasure, and Dharma, which offers timeless bliss through challenges. Scripture-ordained action is performed for the sake of this higher bliss, which requires the sacrifice of lower desires. This higher joy is synonymous with Shri Krishna, where even if the body undergoes suffering, the inner self remains joyful and peaceful. He emphasizes that the identification of the doer determines the nature of the action. He further explains that there are two distinct centers within a being: the natural center and the center of consciousness. The natural center seeks superficial, pre-determined pleasures like attachment and attraction, which never truly satisfy the heart. In contrast, the center of consciousness seeks higher bliss that fulfills the soul. Action is considered scripture-ordained only when it originates from the center of consciousness rather than the natural, ego-driven center. When one acts from the center of consciousness, the action naturally aligns with the scriptures. Regarding the question of suppressing desires, Acharya Prashant asserts that both suppression and sublimation are valid spiritual methods. While modern spirituality often dismisses suppression, it is useful up to a certain point, though sublimation—merging tendencies into the truth—is superior. He concludes by addressing the teacher's dilemma, stating that lower pleasure is rooted in laziness and maintaining the status quo, while higher bliss is a challenge that demands courage and the willingness to face hardships. The choice of which path to follow depends entirely on the individual's readiness to pay the price for truth.
