Acharya Prashant begins by refuting the questioner's analogy that spirituality is like salt in the vegetable dish of life. He clarifies that spirituality is neither the salt nor the vegetable dish. Instead, he defines spirituality as the consciousness that makes you aware of two fundamental things: firstly, that you are hungry, and secondly, that you do not need poison but something else entirely. He emphasizes that spirituality is not merely a part of life that can be compartmentalized alongside personal, professional, or social aspects. Rather than being a component, spirituality is the very vision or light that illuminates all parts of life, enabling one to navigate them correctly. It is the foundation upon which a proper life is built. Acharya Prashant uses the metaphor of a room with many sections; spirituality is the light that allows one to see and move through all these sections without stumbling in the dark. Without this guiding light, every aspect of life—be it personal, professional, relationships, or finances—remains in darkness and is bound to be ruined. He further explains that spirituality is not a part-time activity, like a weekly visit to a temple or an occasional retreat to 'wash off' misdeeds. It is a continuous state, akin to constant attention. Concluding his explanation, he addresses whether a spiritual person needs to be aware of being 'spiritual'. He states that knowing the label is not important. What is crucial is to know what you are not, to recognize illusion (Maya). Just as it is not necessary to know the Self (Atma), it is essential to know Maya. In other words, knowing the lie is more important than knowing the truth.
