Questioner (Q): Acharya Ji, Pranam.
In one of your videos, you said that you should be thankful if things are happening in your life in a fast-forward mode. Please shed some light on it.
Acharya Prashant (AP): First of all, this attitude is putting a condition upon grace and gratitude. Grace is not only when things are in a fast-forward mode, Grace is also when you are not allowing anything to move forward at all. A gratitude is not something that you reserve for special fast-forward occasions, if you do that, it is great arrogance, not gratitude, you are saying that "I will be grateful only when life comes in fast-forward mode."
How do you know that it is fast-forward?
We say that all great change is invisible, undetectable. How will you even come to know that change is in a fast-forward mode?
All that you can detect is superficiality or all you can detect is, changes that are obvious, superficial, you call them great changes, they are not great, they are not even changes.
Real change — please acknowledge, and it is a little humbling to acknowledge — happens without our consent; not only without our consent; even without our acknowledgment.
It may take you years to know that something great has changed.
So remain in gratitude without bothering for change.
Remain grateful without bothering whether it is happening fast or slow.
That is the real change, remaining unconditionally grateful.
Q: Should there be no aim? What do you ultimately want us to do?
AP: I am not saying that there should be no aim because saying this would give you another aim. You are already so fixated with aims.
Q: So should we just enjoy our time?
AP: Can you just enjoy your life by just riggling your fingers?
You will continue to be what you are, be clear about that, that’s all.
‘We should enjoy our life!’
As if, enjoyment is a matter of your personal command, I say, "Yes go and enjoy your life", now does that commence enjoyment?
I say, "No! You should not have any aim."
Will you drop all your aims, the moment I say this?
Do you have it in you to drop your aims?
Aims will remain, misery will remain, be in touch with whatever is there, don’t lie about it. That’s all.
