Acharya Prashant explains that physical proximity or biological connection does not define the self. He uses the example of bacteria and the appendix to show that just because something is attached to the body or lacks utility, it doesn't mean it is separate from the 'I'. He introduces a scientific and mathematical perspective on independence, stating that two variables are truly independent or orthogonal only when a change in one does not affect the other. He argues that most people are not independent of their minds because their state of being fluctuates with their thoughts, emotions, and external circumstances like opinions, results, or even the calendar. This identification with the mind means the 'I' is a function of external objects and internal programming. He describes the mind as a pre-programmed, predictable machine, much like a camera that records data but lacks understanding. True freedom or 'witnessing' (Sakshitva) occurs when one can observe the mind's processes from a distance without being affected by them. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that controlling the mind is a futile effort because the desire to control is itself a thought originating from the mind. Instead of control, he advocates for 'understanding' (attention), which is distinct from 'thinking'. While thinking is always rooted in the past and conditioning, understanding happens in the present moment and is characterized by a state of non-thinking or pure attention. He concludes by distinguishing between the absence of thought in a state of meditation versus a state of unconsciousness.
