Acharya Prashant explains that living in the present can be interpreted from two different centers: the ego or the pursuit of liberation. He notes that many crimes are committed by individuals who are fully in the present, acting on spontaneous impulses without regard for consequences. This form of living in the moment is often used by the ego for instant gratification, similar to how modern advertising encourages impulsive consumption. In contrast, the true spiritual meaning of living in the present is Nishkam Karma, or selfless action. This means being so fully immersed in Dharma and right action that one has no space or inclination to worry about future results or personal gratification. Regarding the concept of beauty, Acharya Prashant defines it as the absence of ugliness, where ugliness is that which causes the self to cringe or move away from truth. He asserts that only the truth is truly beautiful. In the worldly sense, anything that serves as a means to reach the truth can be considered beautiful. Conversely, something that is conventionally attractive but pulls an individual away from the truth is considered the ugliest in spiritual terms. True beauty is found in that which radiates truth and leads to the dissolution of the ego, rather than that which is designed to possess or disturb the mind. Finally, he discusses the concept of vocation and work, distinguishing between labor and spiritual work. He posits that humans are born in a state of bondage, and the true purpose of life is to break free from this prison. Most people engage in labor, which is effort expended merely to sustain the body and continue a state of bondage. True work, or vocation, is defined as effort purposefully directed toward liberation. While labor only tires the individual, spiritual work is that which leads to freedom from the shackles of the ego and the material world.
