Acharya Prashant responds to a question about whether India has lagged behind its neighboring countries due to its principles. The questioner posits that deceit and dishonesty seem to lead to a happy life, citing Pakistan as an example of a country that uses such methods and remains carefree, while India, by trying to follow the path of truth and non-violence, has suffered defeat and injury. Acharya Prashant begins by explaining that the path of truth is not easy because it requires going against oneself, whereas the path of lies and deceit is always attractive as it appears to bring happiness and success easily. He states that our old, primal, dark tendencies constantly pull us towards falsehood. To justify this inclination, we create arguments in favor of falsehood. Similarly, even though truth is valuable, moving towards it demands sacrifice, spiritual practice, and effort. To avoid this, we formulate arguments against the truth. He points out that the questioner's premise is an example of such rationalization, where the path of falsehood is portrayed as beautiful and successful, and the path of truth as thorny and full of failure, which may not be the reality. He then systematically refutes the premise that Pakistan is successful and carefree. He cites several facts: Pakistan's per capita income is about half of India's; it lags behind India in various development indices like the Human Development Index and Gender Development Index; its literacy rate is lower; and its infrastructure and medical facilities are inferior. He also mentions that the country has split into two (Bangladesh), is on the FATF grey list, is a center of global terrorism, and experiences internal religious persecution. Therefore, the notion that Pakistan is happy and successful due to deceit is incorrect. Furthermore, Acharya Prashant challenges the idea that India's suffering is a result of following the path of truth. He asserts that India's failures are not because it was truthful, but because it was not truthful enough. The defeats and sorrows are due to its own flaws and not being as pure as claimed. The failures stem from not adhering to the teachings of the sages and Shri Krishna, rather than from following them. He emphasizes that we have not been as 'milk-washed' or pure as we might like to believe. Acharya Prashant redefines the image of a truthful person, rejecting the popular notion that they are weak, foolish, or easily defeated. He asserts that the essential sign of truth is courage and fearlessness. A truthful person is wise, sharp-witted, and capable of thinking and strategizing in ways an unrighteous person cannot, especially when it comes to defeating an enemy or establishing truth. He uses the example of Shri Krishna from the Mahabharata, who was not a weak or merely moralistic figure. Krishna broke his own vow of not taking up arms and encouraged actions that went against the conventional rules of war for the sake of a higher truth, Dharma. This demonstrates that truth is superior to conventional morality. In conclusion, the speaker calls the association of truth with weakness and falsehood with success a great conspiracy. He clarifies that the path of truth demands total, 100% commitment, and partial adherence will lead to failure. The defeats India has faced are due to a lack of complete commitment to truth, not because of it. He warns against a weak and escapist spirituality, stating that the path of truth is not for the weak, cowardly, or foolish, but for the strong and courageous.