Acharya Prashant addresses the question of how to live in the present moment without wandering into the future. He begins by questioning the very premise of needing a 'how'. He states that what is, is right in front of us, and there is no need for a method to experience it. To illustrate this, he asks the questioner, Ayush, how he is currently listening to his words. He points out that Ayush is simply listening, without employing any special technique like pranayama or standing on his head. The act of listening is happening naturally. Therefore, if one wants to be in the present, one should just be; no method is required. Acharya Prashant explains that the desire for a method stems from our education and conditioning, which have taught us that everything requires a technique. He equates every method with a form of cleverness or a trick that needs to be played for a result to be achieved. This need for a method arises when the ego is involved, as it feels hurt by direct, simple actions. The question of 'how' emerges when the mind wants to devise a stratagem. He asserts that life itself is not complex; the complexities and problems reside in the mind. Consequently, one should not try to solve life's problems but rather the mind's problems. The solution for the mind is to remain light. This lightness is the only 'method', and it means there is no formula, no trick, no mantra, and no special training. There is no hidden secret to uncover. Everything is already present and available. The greatest scholars learned by observing the world around them—the sky, rivers, and birds—all of which are equally available to everyone. The final advice is to stop trying so hard and just be light; in that state of effortlessness, the work is already done.
