Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding the concepts of 'Vidya' (knowledge) and 'Avidya' (ignorance), particularly the Upanishadic verses that state those who know only Avidya enter darkness, while those who know only Vidya enter even deeper darkness. He clarifies that the verses do not say that knowing Vidya or Avidya in itself leads to darkness. The crucial word is "only" (matra/sirf). The verses imply that both must be known together. He explains that Vidya, or self-knowledge, cannot be attained without Avidya, which is the knowledge of the world and the objects one is drawn to. To know oneself, one must first understand the subjects and objects that occupy the mind. The speaker warns against the false claim of possessing Vidya without having any knowledge of Avidya. The ancient sages (Rishis) specifically cautioned against such deceitful people. He describes two types of individuals who fall into darkness. The first are the worldly people, engrossed in Avidya, who at least have some knowledge of the world. The second, who fall into a deeper darkness, are those who claim to be self-realized (possessing only Vidya) without any understanding of the world. These individuals are liars. He extends this to the concepts of form (sakar) and formless (nirakar), stating that one cannot talk about the formless without understanding the form. Discussing the formless is often an excuse to avoid dealing with one's tangible, form-based problems. Spirituality, he asserts, is a form of therapy for one's tangible afflictions, not a discussion of abstract ideals. Addressing the theme of victory and defeat, Acharya Prashant advises against the desire to win, as it will lead to a crushing loss. The real victory lies in repeatedly losing but never abandoning the battlefield. He uses the analogy of a 'Hit Me' toy that always gets back up after being knocked down. Quoting Kabir Saheb, he says, "Gold, the noble, and the saintly break and rejoin a hundred times. The wicked are like a potter's pot, cracking at a single blow." The goal is not to win but to keep getting up after every fall. The desire for victory itself is a trap that leads to a great defeat. The prayer should be to never run away from the battlefield. He concludes by saying that everyone is born to be beaten, and one's only duty is to not shatter and to keep rejoining, to keep getting up.
