Acharya Prashant explains that one can only operate within the zone of their consciousness and has no perception beyond what is consciously known. To understand what is in the subconscious, one must watch what is happening in their consciousness, as there is no other option. The events in the conscious mind arise from the subconscious or unconscious. Using the analogy of throwing light into a well, he states that what is illuminated in the conscious mind provides a good indication of what lies in the dark depths of the subconscious. From what is observed, one must make wise speculations and infer the nature of what is not directly available to be watched. By observing what arises from the subconscious, one can learn ways to penetrate it more deeply. The speaker clarifies that the subconscious remains in the dark only because one is in the dark about it. To illuminate the subconscious is to know it, and the more one knows about it, the more it is illuminated. This process requires being inquisitive and not dismissing everyday phenomena as usual or regular. One must watch their actions, thoughts, emotions, tendencies, reactions, biases, and beliefs, as they contain valuable information about their source in the depths of the mind. The secret lies exactly in that which is considered regular. He provides the example of breathing, which is not a conscious decision, yet it happens. He posits that someone in the dark depths of the mind is breathing, and this entity is not the conscious 'you'. This same entity is also the one who emotes, as breath and emotions are deeply connected; when there is emotional affliction, the breath is the first to indicate it. Similarly, the eyes are not just biomechanical devices like a camera. While a camera just looks at things, the eyes are always looking for something, even if one doesn't consciously know what that is. The eyes have discretion; they are choosy and can turn away from what they are not looking for, which reveals a deeper, inherent longing.
