Hope promises change, but is an agent of continuity || Acharya Prashant (2015)

Question: Hope promises change, but is actually an agent of continuity. There is a lot of ‘hope’ in my life. Why?

Speaker: Keep hoping. The other day somebody was quoting the Quran to me. There was a beautiful verse there. It said, “Go out. Look at the entire world, and see what happened to those who denied the Truth.” Yes? I do not remember the exact Chapter from where the verse was taken. Go and refer to the exact words. I have just recollected from my memory.

You want to be hopeful, then go out, scout, and see what happened to those who ‘hoped’ so much. Because that is the only proof that can be given to you. You only look outwards. If I ask you to look within, you would say, “Where?” because ‘within’ does not exist for you.

Then go out and see what happened to those who lived their lives in hope, and are living their lives in hope. See, face the facts. Face the facts. And don’t just see superficially, from a distance. Come close to them and see what is really happening. See what has happened to your relatives, see what has happened to your friends. And go and talk to old people who have spent all their lives ‘hoping’. See.

(Referring to one of the listeners) Shubhankar has written as his Whatsapp status – “This is it.” If you can remember this much, it is enough. This is it. It won’t get any better because it is not bad at all. Tell yourself very clearly, “It won’t get any better. It is already perfect.” What improvement can you bring upon it? It won’t get any better. I know it breaks your heart. I know how you squirm on hearing, “Nothing better is going to come your way.” But this is it.