Acharya Prashant explains that while scriptures are not strictly 'essential' in the sense of being an absolute necessity for everyone, they are vital tools for those who have not yet attained self-realization. He defines 'essential' as that which one is helpless against, such as peace or enlightenment. If one can achieve peace without scriptures, they are not needed; however, most people are not self-illuminated and require an external source of light to awaken their latent inner potential. He compares scriptures to candles that can light another candle, emphasizing that once a person is awakened, the light becomes their own.