Acharya Prashant responds to a question based on the biblical parable of the wheat and the weeds. He explains that the answer is inherent in the story itself. The issue is not merely about removing vices but about the strength of one's virtues. He asks, "How strong are your virtues?" In the process of removing vices, there will be an upheaval. The question is whether your virtues have enough depth to withstand that upheaval. The story might seem to be about protecting the vices, but it is actually about the wheat, which represents the virtues that one must focus on. This story is for those seekers who are at the initial stages of their spiritual practice. For a beginner, it is crucial to invest all energy in the development of virtues and not get entangled in fights here and there, even if it is against something wrong. One must use discretion and understand that the right time has not yet come. First, strengthen your center, and then you can fight as many external battles as you want. With a weak center, if you fight those you consider wrong, you might lose even in your victory. This is because your attention and energy, which are needed for nurturing your inner truth (sattva), get diverted. The very purpose of stopping the wrong is to allow the right to receive patronage and nourishment. But if your own truth is like a tiny, weak sapling, fighting a banyan tree of falsehood is romantic but impractical. Acharya Prashant clarifies that there are no fixed rules; it is a matter of discretion. There is a time to wait and a time to jump into battle immediately. For those whose truth is strong, the advice is to go and fight. For beginners, the advice is to first fight their own smallness. It is a continuous process: strengthen the inside, then fight outside, which in turn strengthens the inside further. As your inner capacity grows, you can take on bigger external challenges. He cautions against using this teaching as an excuse for cowardice. One must constantly assess when the right time has come to engage with the world, and until then, continue to accumulate inner strength. This is spirituality. He explains that fighting against falsehood is a righteous war (Dharmayuddh), and in such a war, if you lose, it is a loss for Dharma itself. Therefore, do not rush into a battle for which you are not prepared. He distinguishes between reading a scripture and being with a living Guru. You read a scripture with your own blurred vision, but a living Guru can read you and provide guidance tailored to your specific stage. This is why different advice is given to different people, based on their spiritual maturity and capacity.
