Acharya Prashant clarifies that consciousness is inherently localized and temporal because it is tied to the body and the physical universe. He dismisses the concept of 'universal consciousness' as a fallacy, explaining that even the universe itself is a location within space and time. He emphasizes that as long as one is embodied, consciousness cannot transcend its local nature. He uses the example of Shri Ram to illustrate that even divine incarnations must follow the laws of nature, such as building a physical bridge to cross the ocean, rather than relying on mystical translocation. The laws of nature are inviolable, and even the bodies of saints and prophets are subject to physical suffering and death. He distinguishes consciousness from awareness, defining awareness as the non-dual foundation of consciousness. While consciousness always requires objects and contents to exist, awareness is independent and unbothered. Acharya Prashant describes awareness as an 'illuminating sleep' or a state of being untouched and unconcerned by the material world. Unlike consciousness, which is busy with knowledge and events, awareness has no cognition of objects and does not react to news or changes. It is a state of total settlement where the individual remains unbothered by the dualistic experiences of the ego.