Acharya Prashant responds to a question about renouncing worldly pleasures for spiritual experience by questioning the very existence of these pleasures. He states, "Where are the pleasures? I do not see any pleasures. I do not see anybody being pleased." He argues that the idea of renouncing pleasures presupposes that they exist, but he sees no evidence of this. He points to examples like weekend parties where people drink not because they are happy, but to forget their miserable state. He calls the notion that one is living a life of pleasure and that spirituality will snatch it away a form of self-flattery and "bluster." The speaker asserts that nobody is truly happy, and if one scratches the surface, this becomes evident. He uses the example of forced smiles on social media, questioning their reality. He explains that if one were truly happy, it would be an internal confirmation, and there would be no need to seek validation from others or broadcast one's happiness. He urges the listener to drop the illusion that people are genuinely happy. The pursuit of flimsy pleasures is a result of not having true joy. Spirituality, he clarifies, is not about dropping something real but about dropping false pleasures, which are synonymous with suffering, in order to attain real joy. He defines joy (Anand) as unconditional, continuous, and uncaused pleasure. It is a subtle inner state that refuses to be miserable, even in the worst circumstances. He references Vedanta, which teaches not to settle for anything less than joy, as it is what one truly deserves. He encourages being adamant in the pursuit of something that time and circumstances cannot take away—something utterly secure and trustworthy. This real success is joy.