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असफलता मिले तो न घबराना, न लजाना || आचार्य प्रशांत, आइ.आइ.टी. गुवाहाटी में (2023)
428.8K views
2 years ago
Yudhyasva
Titiksha
Bhagavad Gita
Self-Knowledge
Destruction of Ego
Understanding vs. Perception
Swami Vivekananda
Adi Shankaracharya
Description

A questioner expresses his unhappiness and inner turmoil after listening to Acharya Prashant, stating that his life has become chaotic. He finds himself oscillating between his old ways and the new teachings, often doing what he knows is wrong, and feels his mind resists the speaker's words instead of finding peace. Acharya Prashant responds by saying that this chaos is a very good thing. He is more concerned about those who claim to feel only joy after listening to him, as he himself does not experience mere fun from his own words. He explains that his entire work is to demolish old, rotten structures and clear the debris, a process that inevitably involves destruction and hurt. He asserts that if one cannot endure this pain, there is no point in being young. This work is not for the weak, as life itself, and especially the highest work of liberation, is not for the weak. The fact that the questioner's life has become chaotic is a reason to celebrate, as it signifies that old, deeply ingrained habits and attachments are being challenged. Acharya Prashant elaborates that when these old things begin to go, it naturally causes a commotion, and the person who inspires this change might seem like an enemy. He quotes a Zen master, saying, "That disciple is not a disciple at all in whose mind the thought of killing the master has not arisen at least once." This inner work is like surgery on the heart; it is bound to be painful and create turmoil. The disciple's job is to endure it. He refers to two words from the Bhagavad Gita: 'Titikshasva' (endurance) and 'Yudhyasva' (to fight). Life is a righteous war ('Dharma Yuddha') where one must not back down but fight selflessly, even if it means hurting, dying, or killing one's own attachments. This process of being wounded continues until the one who gets hurt—the ego—is annihilated, which is the very goal of self-knowledge. Addressing another questioner, Acharya Prashant distinguishes between perception and understanding. He states that everything is not merely perception. While machines can perceive, understanding ('Bodh') is a uniquely human quality. It is not just translation, decoding, or information gathering. Understanding is the ability to witness one's own thoughts and feelings from a distance. This capacity to observe one's inner processes is what constitutes realization, liberation, and detachment. The journey of life is a continuous process of cleansing this inner jungle, and the path to liberation is not about reaching a final destination but about constantly moving towards it. The speaker emphasizes that one's effort and dedication to this journey are what truly matter.