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Ego will not understand this world, but will demand a Reality beyond || Acharya Prashant (2013)
Acharya Prashant
659 views
12 years ago
Mind
Divine
Time and Space
Atheism
Austerity
Holy Scriptures
Ego
Mystery
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that all 'happening' is a mental construct because it is inherently tied to the concepts of time and space. Since time and space are products of the mind, any event or change perceived within them is mental rather than real. He asserts that in the 'real' or divine state, there is no happening, no change, and no form. The restless mind, however, constantly tries to encroach upon the divine by demanding pictures, videos, or descriptions, but the divine cannot be captured by the mind's fantasies or words. He warns that holy scriptures, statues, and songs can be misleading if taken as the final truth, as they attempt to give form to the formless. He highlights the arrogance of the human mind in believing it can understand or capture the divine. He suggests that those who claim to know everything and see no mystery in life are dangerous and destructive. Acharya Prashant argues that science can sometimes foster a false sense of total understanding, whereas true spirituality requires acknowledging the mysterious and bowing down in awe. He critiques the human tendency to bring the divine down to a mundane level through personal images and stories, such as treating God as a child or a spouse, which he views as a violation that reduces the infinite to a human level. Furthermore, he discusses how people often use the name of God to justify their own greed, violence, or laziness. He suggests that being an atheist can be a purer state than believing in fabricated, 'fairy tale' versions of God, as it spares one from sycophancy and mental illness. He emphasizes that one must first understand the mental world and live an austere life before attempting to inquire into the self or the divine. He concludes that the divine is not for everyone; it requires a basic qualification of thinning out attachments and living a life of penance and discipline.