Acharya Prashant responds to a questioner who felt he was going mad after hearing a spiritual leader's statement that consciousness is not just inside but also outside. The speaker explains that there is no surprise in this, as the statement itself is nonsensical. He says that if you listen to and believe in mad ideas, you will become mad. He questions the premise of consciousness being a 'thing' that can be located inside or outside, comparing it to air, water, or a sweet. Acharya Prashant elaborates that the mind is like a child, not very wise, and can be easily disturbed by misleading thoughts. He gives an analogy: if you are told to constantly think that your body is on fire and there is no water to extinguish it, you will naturally become agitated. These are all games played at the level of thought. If the mind is troubled excessively, it can act erratically and even harm itself. He states that the words 'consciousness', 'mind', 'soul', 'truth', and 'love' are the most abused words. He explains that traditionally in India, the highest scriptures (Aarsh Granth) were not meant for everyone. This was not due to the caste system, but because the scriptures themselves specify the qualifications (adhikari) required to understand them, which are based on one's inner state. The danger of unqualified access is that profound concepts get misinterpreted, leading to the spread of misinformation and causing mental disturbance. Today, due to technology and a simplistic understanding of equality, everyone has access to these texts and feels entitled to comment on them. Many so-called spiritual leaders, ignorant of the scriptures, claim to speak from 'inner knowledge' to avoid being tested, which is a form of deception. Acharya Prashant defines Maya's two powers: 'Aavaran' (veiling the truth) and 'Vikshep' (projecting what is not real). A disturbed or mad person is one who is experiencing 'vikshep'—seeing things that are not there. When spirituality is used to spread falsehoods, it only creates more agitation. He strongly advises listeners to thoroughly test any teacher before accepting them. Just as one investigates before entrusting even small things, one must be even more careful when entrusting one's mind. He suggests asking sharp questions and testing their knowledge of the scriptures, rather than being swayed by a large stage or a famous name. It is better to be skeptical than to have blind faith. The harm from doubting a true teacher is minimal, but the harm from blindly believing a false one is immense.
