Acharya Prashant explains the intricate psychological dynamics between a teacher and a disciple, noting that the path of knowledge often involves potential for friction. He points out that a teacher might feel frustration toward a disciple's perceived lack of understanding, while a disciple might feel resentment due to the teacher's direct and painful corrections. This is why Shanti Path prayers are recited at the beginning and end of Upanishads—to pray for mutual protection, shared progress in knowledge, and the maintenance of love, acknowledging that the path to wisdom can sometimes turn sour. He suggests that if a relationship with a teacher feels overly comfortable or pleasant, it might simply be a preparatory phase before a significant spiritual blow or correction is delivered. As the spiritual journey progresses, Acharya Prashant describes how the relationship evolves beyond human-to-human interaction into a subtle quality where physical gestures and overt displays of devotion are replaced by refined, silent understanding. Eventually, this relationship becomes so thin and subtle that it dissolves entirely, much like smoke vanishing into the air. He clarifies that the Shanti Path was composed by the same sages who wrote the Upanishads. Discussing the state of an 'Avadhut' or a liberated soul, he explains that such a person has transcended the concepts of sin and merit. For the seeker, reaching this state means realizing that everything to be done has been completed and everything to be attained has been found, leading to a state of being a witness with nothing left to achieve.