Acharya Prashant clarifies an apparent contradiction between two of his statements: "To know your intentions, watch your actions" and "Action does not matter, the actor does." He explains that the first statement is meant to guard against the hypocrisy of the ego. The ego loves to carry images and lives in imaginations, including a false self-image that is conducive to its own survival. For instance, one might think of oneself as brave. To challenge this false image, one must observe their actual actions and choices in life. This reveals the dissonance between the imagined self and reality, thereby exposing the ego's deliberate falseness. Without observing one's actions, one can remain deluded by a false self-concept for a long time. The second statement, "Action does not matter, the actor does," emphasizes that the ultimate focus should be on the actor, which is the self or the ego. The action is merely a manifestation of the actor. The actor is the one who feels, suffers, and is restless, while the action itself is an inanimate, insentient thing without consciousness. Since all discussion is for the sake of the actor who suffers, the primary emphasis must be on knowing the actor. The ego-self feels incomplete and troubled, which compels it to constantly act; it cannot rest. Therefore, the ego is the actor. Reconciling the two, Acharya Prashant states that the ultimate point is to know who you are—the doer. However, the doer is an invisible, internal entity that cannot be seen with the eyes. The only way to detect and understand the invisible doer is by observing its visible manifestation, which is the action or the doing. Therefore, looking at the action is an important means to come to know the actor. The action is not important in itself but only because it leads to the actor. Otherwise, action by itself holds little value and can be deceptive, as the actor can use it to hide or project a particular image. Thus, you must look at the action to know the actor.
