Acharya Prashant addresses a question about the relevance of visiting physical temples. He begins by affirming that temples are definitely necessary for the mind, just as a hospital is necessary for the body. However, he urges caution. Just as one would not get admitted to any random hospital or send their child to any school, one must be careful when choosing a temple. A hospital can give life, but it can also be a source of death and infection. Similarly, some temples can be life-giving, while others can cause mental infection or contamination. The speaker defines a temple as any place from which the mind returns in a better, cleaner, and calmer state. The purpose of visiting a temple is to return improved. Therefore, one must first establish a clear goal for their visit, such as to find peace, and then assess whether that goal was achieved. If one returns feeling worse or more agitated, that place is not a temple for them. He criticizes the act of visiting temples merely as a ritual or formality, comparing it to going to a hospital without checking if the treatment is effective. People are very concerned about their physical health but often neglect their mental well-being. If one cannot find a life-giving temple, Acharya Prashant advises them to build one, even within their own home. The relationship with the concept of a temple should not be severed. He distinguishes between a devotee (bhakt) and a tourist (paryatak), stating that a devotee seeks something specific, whereas a tourist just wanders. The question, "What did I gain?" must always remain alive. When this question is present, the possibility of truly benefiting from a visit increases. He concludes by stating that a place of learning, like the auditorium he is in, is also a temple. Visiting such a place can help one understand the symbolism of traditional temples, making those symbols meaningful.
