Acharya Prashant critiques the popular notion of living in the present moment, describing it as a consumerist propaganda that encourages mindless action without foresight. He explains that true living in the present involves residing in that which is real and essential, which requires the discernment to distinguish between wisdom and foolishness. Rather than using physical consumption to fill a mental void, one should achieve mental fullness first and then consume only what is necessary. He emphasizes that the Present is not a fragment of time but an expansive space that contains the past, the future, and the current moment, remaining itself beyond time. He further discusses the role of planning, noting that while material activities require it, the spiritual realm beyond the material cannot be planned. Addressing the concept of influence, he distinguishes between worldly influencers and the words of saints or scriptures. While worldly influences add superficial layers to a person, the teachings of a Guru are intended to dissolve the ego. Using the analogy of a sugar cube being painted with watery colors, he explains that while the Guru may seem to give the seeker a new role, such as that of a disciple, the ultimate process is one of dissolution. Once the seeker is completely dissolved through total immersion in the teachings, they can no longer be affected by any external influence.
