Acharya Prashant addresses the misconception that a rational, fact-based life is dry or devoid of purpose compared to a life of romanticized delusions. He explains that the 'juice' or excitement found in Bollywood-style romance or religious fantasies is often a product of an unconscious mind. As one becomes more conscious and intelligent, these delusions appear nauseating or cringe-worthy rather than appealing. He argues that reality and truth are inherently fascinating and that the most elevated human beings, such as scientists and artists, lead lives that are far from dry. He warns against the propaganda that portrays intelligence as eccentric or boring while glorifying stupidity as fun, noting that such a mindset reduces human life to an animalistic level driven purely by instincts and emotions. He further explains that while delusions and stories might offer a quick recovery from grief or suffering, they do so by keeping the individual at a very low level of consciousness. True consciousness involves facing facts, which may initially increase suffering because one is no longer numbing themselves with fantasies. However, greatness lies in willingly embracing this suffering for the sake of honesty. He describes a point of inflection where suffering begins to drop once a person stops resisting it and accepts their chosen path without cribbing. Ultimately, he asserts that the highest form of joy and 'juice' is found in the truth, and that intelligence is the source of genuine fun, provided one is willing to pay the price for it through effort and awareness.
