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पुरुष हो तुम, बस इतना याद रखो (छः वर्षीय बालक का प्रश्न) || आचार्य प्रशांत, भगवद्गीता पर (2022)
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3 years ago
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
Sankhya Yoga
Purusha and Prakriti
Weakness (Daurbalya)
Shri Krishna
Action (Karma)
Attachment
Witnessing
Description

Acharya Prashant responds to a six-year-old boy's questions based on the second chapter of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. First, he addresses the boy's query about a specific verse, clarifying that the word used by Shri Krishna is 'weakness' (daurbalya), not 'impotence' (napunsakta). He explains that weakness is not the absence of strength but the failure to use the strength one possesses. It is not about being incapable of performing an action, but about deciding not to do what is right. He uses the example of the boy holding the microphone; if the boy were to decide not to lift it, that would be weakness. Expanding on this, Acharya Prashant states that according to Shri Krishna, the outcome of an action, whether success or failure, is irrelevant. The crucial part is making the decision to undertake the right action. The hesitation to act, born from fear of consequences like failure, getting stuck, or losing respect, is the essence of weakness. He commends the young questioner for being strong enough to ask his question, contrasting him with others who might have been hesitant. He then addresses the boy's second question about Sankhya Yoga. Acharya Prashant explains Sankhya Yoga by dividing existence into two fundamental principles: 'Prakriti' (Nature) and 'Purusha' (Consciousness). Prakriti encompasses everything that is seen or can be observed, including all objects in the world and even one's own body. Purusha, on the other hand, is the seer, the witness, the one who observes. He explains that all that is visible is Prakriti, and all those who can see are Purusha. Sankhya Yoga, he continues, teaches that the seer (Purusha) becomes attracted to and entangled with the seen (Prakriti). This attraction is the cause of bondage and suffering. The path of Sankhya Yoga is to recognize oneself as the seer (Purusha) and to remain separate from the seen (Prakriti). The real joy is in the act of witnessing, not in becoming attached to what is witnessed. He concludes by advising the boy to always remember, "I am Purusha, and I must remain Purusha."