Acharya Prashant addresses the common question regarding the purpose of life by first challenging the definition of being alive. He argues that most human activities—eating, walking, and reacting to stimuli—are mechanical and can be replicated by an advanced machine. If a person's desires, emotions, and actions are merely the result of biological programming or external conditioning, they are not truly alive but are functioning as machines. He posits that true life is defined by intelligence and the ability to understand, which allows one to go beyond pre-programmed behaviors. While machines have purposes assigned by external masters, intelligence has no target or purpose; it is complete in itself. He further explains that seeking a purpose in life is a form of slavery because purposes are always external impositions and are situated in the future. By focusing on a future goal or result, an individual condemns their present moment to boredom, frustration, and anxiety. This perpetual waiting for a future 'purpose' devalues the current experience of living. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that life is happening right now and needs no external justification or goal. To live with a purpose is to treat the present as a mere medium for a future end, leading to a lack of love and presence in one's actions and relationships. He concludes that understanding and being awake in the present moment is the essence of life, which is complete without any purpose.