Alia Bhatt Asks Sadhguru About Parenting & Fear of Failure | 4K UHD

The speaker began by emphasizing that life for women has never been as physically comfortable and easy as it is today. He highlighted the convenience of modern amenities like running water and flushing toilets, which were once significant physical burdens. While acknowledging that arrangements for women are better than ever, he questioned whether their experience of life has become "fantastic," suggesting that internal well-being often lags behind external comforts. He stressed the importance of learning "how to be" and cultivating an inner experience that is not dependent on external circumstances, noting that even those in privileged positions can suffer if their internal state is not addressed. He then reflected on the environmental cost of modern comfort and convenience, stating that humanity's pursuit of these things has come at an enormous price for every other creature on the planet. He lamented that despite this cost, many people seem to live their lives as if attending a funeral, even in their "dream cars," rather than with joy and celebration. He urged a shift in perspective, advocating for a life lived wonderfully, especially given the unprecedented physical ease. The conversation then turned to the frantic pace of modern life and the feeling of being "outrun" by it. The speaker clarified that people are indeed breathing, but they are not "enjoying their breath" because their focus is lost in their "psychological mess." He explained that individuals often mistake the "nonsense" happening in their heads for life itself, failing to direct their internal "drama" effectively. He asserted that one should at least be able to control their inner world, even if the external world is unpredictable. Addressing the worries of a parent, the speaker shared a personal anecdote about being glad to have a daughter rather than a son, recalling his own wild and dangerous childhood activities. He advised against teaching children, suggesting instead that parents should learn from their children, who are "far closer to life." He explained that children are naturally joyful and unburdened by the "psychological cases" that adults become, emphasizing that happiness often requires effort in adulthood, whereas children are inherently joyful. The discussion then moved to the internet age and the abundance of opinions. The speaker stated that he does not form opinions about others, even those he has known for decades, because forming an opinion closes off the possibility of transformation. He sees every human being as "potential," not a "resource," and believes that nurturing this potential is the excitement of life. He also addressed the impact of online comments, suggesting that one should not be bothered by opinions from "Timbuktu" if they can be easily disregarded. He added that one should even listen to "donkeys" because sometimes they speak intelligent things. He challenged the common notion of "dealing with" life as if it were a problem, advocating for effortless navigation through the world without friction or unnecessary conflict. He suggested that true intelligence lies in avoiding fights altogether, rather than winning them. The topic of failure was then introduced, with the speaker sharing his own experience of setting an ambitious goal to make the entire world blissful within two and a half years when he was 25. Despite working tirelessly for over 40 years and reaching billions of people, he acknowledged that he would "die a failure" in terms of his initial goal. However, he declared himself a "blissful failure," offering this as a blessing to others. He argued that human capacity for imagination and aspiration is so vast that it cannot be fulfilled in a single lifetime, and therefore, one should aim for something that cannot be done, taking steps for future generations. He concluded that if one is blissful, external judgments of success or failure become irrelevant. Finally, the conversation touched on sleep, with the speaker revealing he now sleeps four to four and a half hours, having previously managed with two and a half to three hours for nearly three decades. He challenged the idea of "loving sleep," suggesting that people love the restfulness it provides, but true well-being comes from not winding oneself up in the first place. He also questioned why people struggle to sleep without aids, attributing it to a lack of physical activity and an overactive mind. He humorously described heaven based on various cultural depictions, but then pointed out that to go to heaven, one must die and leave their body behind, rendering the material pleasures of heaven meaningless without a physical form. He concluded by asking if people had any proof they weren't already in heaven and making a mess of it, urging gratitude and joy in a world that offers unprecedented comforts at a great cost to other life.