Acharya Prashant addresses the question of how to know if one has truly understood spiritual texts. He begins by quoting a couplet: "Those who know, do not speak; those who speak, do not know." He explains this paradox by stating that true understanding comes when it becomes clear that you do not know. When this happens, you will come to know without even realizing it. However, if your primary objective is to acquire knowledge, you will not be able to know anything. The speaker elaborates that if your aim is to realize your own ignorance, then something will become known to you slowly, quietly, and silently. You will come to know something, but you won't even be aware that you know it. This understanding will become an integral part of you, like blood flowing in your veins, and will be useful when needed. He uses the analogy of a special, empty pocket that magically provides exactly what is needed at the moment of need, but remains empty otherwise. The mind becomes like this—it holds no pre-prepared answers but responds appropriately when life demands it. He further distinguishes between knowledge (gyan) and understanding (bodh). Knowledge is like something pre-existing and stale, while understanding is fresh and immediate, like picking a fruit from a tree only when hungry. The mind of one who understands is empty, not burdened with stored information. He compares worldly knowledge to things that stick to a pan (the mind), whereas the knowledge of the Upanishads is like soap that cleans the pan without sticking to it. The Upanishads work against conventional knowledge, removing attachments and the clutter of accumulated information. We are constantly gathering knowledge unconsciously from birth, from our genetic makeup to every life experience. This is the "dust of time." The Upanishads are the remedy for this excess, useless knowledge. Finally, he explains that while most knowledge is gathered unconsciously, the Upanishads must be approached consciously. However, he cautions that claiming to be conscious while seeking knowledge is often a sign of unconsciousness, much like a drunkard claiming to be sober. True consciousness is not a claim but a state of being.