Acharya Prashant explains the symbolism of the person and the shadow as a representation of the duality between the individual and the world. He states that the person and the shadow are invariably related, forming a ubiquitous game of duality where the world appears according to how the person perceives themselves. The shadow represents the world that is projected by and always accompanies the person. He clarifies that both the person and the shadow arise from a single non-dual source, symbolized by the sun. This sun represents the Truth or God, which makes the existence of both the individual and the world possible, even when its presence is not immediately visible. He further elaborates that in the world of the mystic, the shadow is viewed as a curse or a source of suffering. The relationship between the person and the world is characterized by inadequacy, where the world is perceived either as a hostile threat or a seductive temptation. Whether one tries to safeguard oneself against the world or runs after it out of desire, the result is a state of self-inflicted trauma. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that the only way to diminish this shadow is to have the sun directly overhead. This signifies a state of complete surrender to the Truth, where the ego is placed directly below the divine. In such a state, the shadow is minimized and the world is symbolically placed beneath one's feet.
