Introduction
Welcome to your fourth and final lesson in our first module, "A Philosophy for Action."
So far, we have built a powerful toolkit drawn from Indian philosophy:
- Karma Yoga taught you how to act—with focus on the process, detached from the outcome.
- Svadharma gave you a profound reason why you must act—framing your JEE preparation as your unique, meaningful duty at this point in your life.
- Sakshi Bhava provided a practical method to handle the internal resistance to action by witnessing your thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them.
Today, we address a different but equally potent question: What if that feeling of duty feels hollow? What if the whole enterprise of studying feels repetitive, absurd, and ultimately meaningless? You have described feeling "stuck" and experiencing "misery," which are common when your actions feel disconnected from a sense of purpose.
This lesson tackles that feeling head-on. We will turn to Western existentialist philosophy, which begins not with a divine duty or a witnessing Self, but with the stark reality of a silent universe. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to connect the existentialist idea of 'creating meaning through action' to your daily commitment of studying. This will give you a robust, alternative foundation for your work, one that you build yourself, brick by brick, every day.
Part 1: You Are the Author of Your Life
The central idea of existentialism, particularly from philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, is summed up in a powerful phrase: "Existence precedes essence."
What does this mean?
- Essence is the fundamental nature of a thing, its purpose, its definition. A paperknife's essence (to cut paper) is designed before it is created.
- Existence is simply the fact of being.
Sartre argued that for humans, unlike paperknives, there is no pre-existing design or purpose. We are not born with a built-in "essence." We are simply "thrown into" existence. First, we exist. Then, through our choices and—most importantly—our actions, we create our own essence. You are not defined by a predetermined nature; you define yourself by what you do.
This radical freedom is both thrilling and terrifying. Sartre called it being "condemned to be free." We are free from any pre-ordained path, but we are also burdened with the total responsibility for creating our own.
EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE. APPLICATION ...
This article, 'EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE', provides a very clear breakdown of Sartre's idea and its practical implications.
Please read the sections titled 'Individuals Exist Without Any Initial Predetermined Purpose or Essence', 'Personal Responsibility and Freedom', and 'Like No Other'. Focus on how Sartre connects the lack of inherent meaning to the immense personal responsibility you have to create your own meaning through your thoughts, choices, and actions.
When you procrastinate, you might tell yourself, "I'm just not a disciplined person." An existentialist would argue this is "bad faith"—an excuse you use to avoid the terrifying responsibility of your freedom. You aren't "a disciplined person" or "an undisciplined person" by nature. You are a person who is, in this moment, acting with discipline or acting without it. Your actions define you, not the other way around.
Part 2: Your Boulder, Your Meaning
This brings us to a challenge. If you have to create your own meaning through action, what about actions that feel repetitive and pointless, like the daily grind of solving physics problems? This is what philosopher Albert Camus called the Absurd.
The Absurd is the conflict between our human desire for meaning and the universe's silent, indifferent response. You look for a grand reason for your struggle, and you find none.
Camus illustrates this with the Greek myth of Sisyphus, a man condemned by the gods to forever push a boulder up a mountain, only to watch it roll back down every time he nears the top.
The Philosophy of the Absurd: Camus’s Myth of Sisyphus
The story of Sisyphus is perhaps the most powerful metaphor for finding meaning in a repetitive struggle. This short video explains the concept beautifully.
Please watch the segment from 06:48 to 09:17. It explains the Sisyphus myth as an allegory for our daily lives and how Camus finds meaning not in the goal, but in the struggle itself.
Your JEE preparation is your boulder. Each day, you push it—revising chemistry, practicing math, tackling physics. At the end of the day, you sleep, and the next morning, the boulder is at the bottom of the hill again, waiting. It can feel like a meaningless, eternal task.
Camus's radical insight is this: The meaning is not in getting the boulder to stay at the top. The meaning is created in the act of pushing. Sisyphus's rebellion against his absurd fate is his choice to walk back down the hill, face his boulder, and push again.
Camus concludes his essay with a famous line: "The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy."
Your meaning isn't just in the future JEE rank. It's in the courage, dignity, and consciousness you bring to the struggle today.
Part 3: How Meaning is Built
So, if meaning isn't discovered but built, what are the building materials? Existentialism proposes they are not abstract thoughts, but concrete behaviors.
The Complete Guide to Existentialism (The Art of Creating Meaning)
This video provides an excellent summary of how existential meaning is created. It breaks down the process into four key elements.
Please watch the section from 42:10 to 50:43. This is the most important part of today's lesson. It outlines the four elements of meaning-creation: Choice, Commitment, Responsibility, and Action. Pay close attention to the idea that 'meaning does not arrive as a revelation... It is built slowly, quietly through engagement with life.'
Let's apply these four elements directly to your JEE preparation:
- Choice: You have chosen this path. Even if it feels like a path you fell into, every day you don't quit is a day you are actively choosing it. Acknowledging this choice ends passivity.
- Commitment: You commit to your study schedule even when it's boring, difficult, or unrewarding. Commitment turns a simple choice into a part of your identity.
- Responsibility: You take ownership of your preparation. You stop blaming circumstances or waiting for motivation. This ownership gives your actions weight and reality.
- Action: This is where it all comes together. The hours you spend studying, the problems you solve, the concepts you review—these are the bricks. Every single action builds your essence.
The most crucial insight here is the reversal of what we normally expect: Act first. Meaning follows.
You are waiting to feel motivated to study. An existentialist says: Study, and you will become motivated. You are waiting for studying to feel meaningful. An existentialist says: Study, and you will create meaning.
The Fourth Tool: The Existential Reframe
Just as we developed the "60-Second Witnessing Pause" from Advaita, we can create a practical tool from existentialism. Use this when you feel the pointlessness of your work creeping in.
The Existential Reframe
When you have the thought, "What is the point of this? This is so meaningless," pause and reframe it:
- Old Thought: "What's the point of solving another 50 physics problems?"
- Existential Reframe: "There is no pre-given point. I am creating the point right now. This action is not just about 50 problems. This is me, in this moment, choosing to build myself into someone who is disciplined, resilient, and intelligent. This act of pushing the boulder is the meaning. I am the author of this moment."
This reframes studying from a passive task you must endure into an active process of self-creation.
Lesson Summary
- Existence Precedes Essence: You are not born with a fixed purpose. Your actions define who you are.
- The Absurdity of the Grind: The repetitive nature of studying can feel meaningless, like Sisyphus pushing his boulder.
- Meaning is Built, Not Found: You create meaning through your conscious Choice, Commitment, Responsibility, and, above all, Action.
- Act First, Meaning Follows: Don't wait to feel motivated or inspired. The act of doing the work is what generates meaning and motivation. Your daily study sessions are acts of self-creation.
You now have a powerful set of philosophical tools from both East and West. When the path feels like a sacred duty, use Svadharma. When it feels like an absurd struggle, use Existentialism. When your mind rebels against either path, use Sakshi to witness the rebellion without being swept away by it.
Preview of the Next Lesson
We have spent this first module building a robust philosophical foundation for why you should act. You now have multiple, powerful frameworks to give your work meaning.
However, knowing why you should act doesn't always stop procrastination. In the next module, "The Psychology of Procrastination," we will shift from philosophy to psychology. We will dissect the actual mechanics of why we avoid action, exploring the emotional cycles and cognitive biases that keep you stuck, and begin building an arsenal of practical, evidence-based strategies to overcome them.