Acharya Prashant corrects a questioner's understanding of Karma Yoga. The questioner believed that setting a goal, such as qualifying for an exam, and then working towards it with equanimity without attachment to the result, constitutes Karma Yoga. Acharya Prashant clarifies that this is a misunderstanding. He explains that setting and pursuing tangible, worldly targets, even without thinking of the results, is not what Karma Yoga is about. Acharya Prashant elaborates that Karma Yoga is a moment-to-moment practice, as action (Karma) is always happening. The essence of Karma Yoga lies in being conscious of the source and objective of one's actions. One must constantly question whether an action is meant for personal ingratiation—to feed and fatten one's own ego—or if it serves a larger welfare. This larger purpose can be referred to as Krishna, or Nishkamta (action without desire), or any other preferred term. It is a continuous, moment-to-moment thing. He further explains that Karma Yoga is about consciously exercising the choice of action. This includes being aware of how one is acting in the present, such as how one is listening. Listening to defend the ego is not Karma Yoga; it is when the ego is prepared to be dissolved through the action in the moment that it becomes Karma Yoga. The focus is not on the intensity of the action but on the desire behind it. One must be aware of what they have chosen to act for and what they desire as a result of their action, as the ego typically only desires its own pleasures. Finally, Acharya Prashant cautions against treating spirituality as a bundle of concepts or the Bhagavad Gita as a system of thought with fixed principles. He calls spirituality a "living thing" and notes that while the Gita is widely read, it is also one of the most misunderstood texts. He advises that one's initial interpretations are often misplaced and that such holy scriptures must be read repeatedly. With each successive reading, one peels off a layer of inner ignorance, leading to clearer understanding.
