Acharya Prashant explains that the body's importance is limited to its function as a vehicle or instrument for reaching one's ultimate destination, which is the Self (Atma). He uses the analogy of a car, stating that a car is a good thing only as long as one is driving it. Similarly, the body is valuable only to the extent that it aids in the journey towards the Self. The moment the body, the instrument, starts dictating the course of life, it must be put back in its place. He cautions against the reversal of roles where the car starts telling the driver where to go, comparing it to a situation where the body's demands and whims take precedence over the pursuit of the Self. The speaker emphasizes that the Self is the ultimate goal ('sadhya'), and everything else, including the body, is merely a means ('sadhan') to attain it. Therefore, the body must be respected and cared for, but only as an instrument. Neglecting the body is a crime, not because the body is precious in itself, but because a neglected instrument cannot complete the journey. Conversely, one must also be prepared to sacrifice the body if the goal demands it, just as great figures have done throughout history. This is not a balancing act between the physical and the spiritual; rather, the attention given to the body is determined by the spiritual objective it is meant to serve. Acharya Prashant criticizes the common misconception of life that is preoccupied with metaphysical questions about death and the afterlife. He calls this a "religion of death" that renders one's present life lifeless. He asserts that spirituality is about the tangible, physical, and material life of the living being, here and now. Body-consciousness does not mean having a body; it means being ruled by the body. True freedom (Jivanmukti) is when consciousness is the master and the body is its follower. The purpose of religion is to bring peace and joy to this living, suffering being, not to please some otherworldly entity. Religion is for the individual's well-being, and any religion that does not serve this immediate, tangible purpose should be rejected.