Acharya Prashant explains that Vedanta is not a philosophy in the typical Western sense, but rather an inquiry into one's own nature. This inquiry stems from a fundamental dissatisfaction with one's current state and seeks to answer the question, "Who am I?" The core of this investigation is the realization that something is amiss, as one is never truly fulfilled and constantly seeks the next exciting thing. The fundamental Vedantic inquiry is, "Who am I to keep wanting like this, and where did I come from?" He elaborates that Vedanta is certain about one thing: whoever we are, we are not content with it. This is why the inquiry begins. Something about us is amiss. The self, or the "I," is a fluctuating entity, changing based on situations and influences. This is why Vedanta has been interpreted from many different angles by various sages and teachers throughout history. While the destination is the same, each person's starting point is unique, necessitating different approaches. The principles of medicine remain the same, but the prescription is unique for each patient. Similarly, the fundamentals of Vedanta are constant, but its application must be contextual. Acharya Prashant further explains that the ego has a great tendency to co-opt the words of the sages to reinforce itself, rather than for liberation. This necessitates a continuous tradition of teachers who must present the truth in new, sometimes drastically different ways to checkmate the ego at its own game. The words of one teacher, meant for a specific time, can be distorted and assimilated by the ego, requiring a new teacher to step in. Therefore, no words can be eternal; they need reinterpretation according to the time, situation, and people. For the Bhagavad Gita to be useful, one must identify with Arjun's embattled state of attachment and dilemma; only then does Shri Krishna become a personal coach. In today's context, Vedanta amounts to negating the popular notions and ideals that are venerated, such as money, knowledge, consumption, and the pursuit of happiness. Vedanta is a philosophy of negation, a cleaning mechanism. It does not provide a positive message because reality itself is already joyful; the task is to uncover it by removing the nonsense. Vedanta is a big question mark, an inquiry that is an obstacle to immediate gratification. Therefore, it is only for those who love truth more than sensual gratification.
