Acharya Prashant responds to a question about experience and truth. He clarifies that he did not advise avoiding experience, but rather avoiding the mistake of considering experience as the ultimate truth. He explains that when an individual confines themselves to a limited environment, they are exposed to only one type of repetitive experience. This repetition creates an illusion of permanence, and what is perceived as permanent is often mistaken for truth. He uses the analogy of a person confined within four walls; their constant experience of the walls leads them to believe the walls are eternal and true, and they might even start worshipping them. Acharya Prashant states that when he speaks of gaining knowledge from experience, he means one should seek new and diverse experiences, especially those that the ego tends to avoid and from which one has shied away. Addressing another questioner who brings up the misuse of scriptures to justify superstition and the caste system, citing Shri Krishna's words from the Gita, Acharya Prashant dismisses such interpretations. He also refutes the claim that modern science is derived from the Vedas, calling it propaganda by people who have likely not read the Vedas themselves. He explains the structure of the Vedas, which are composed of four parts: Samhita (mantras), Brahmana (rituals), Aranyaka (forest treatises), and the Upanishads (Vedanta). The journey within the Vedas progresses from nature worship in the Samhitas to the ultimate goal of liberation from nature in the Upanishads. The Upanishads represent a complete shift in focus towards self-knowledge (Atma-gyan) and Brahman, moving beyond the worship of natural forces like Indra, Varuna, and Agni. He describes this transition as an airplane taking off from the runway, signifying a departure to a higher plane of understanding. Acharya Prashant further elaborates that the entire spiritual journey, from the worship of nature to liberation from it, is encapsulated within the Vedas. The Upanishads are the culmination of this journey, and their philosophy of Advaita is the final word on the matter. However, because the truth of Advaita is challenging for the ego to accept, many subsequent interpretations have distorted it. When a questioner mentions the revolutionary Che Guevara's fight for liberation, Acharya Prashant agrees that all great human endeavors, whether the invention of penicillin or the struggle against imperialism, are expressions of the desire for liberation from bondage. Liberation, he explains, is not an abstract concept but the very real process of removing the bondages that limit human potential. For instance, the invention of electricity is a form of liberation from the darkness and the mental slavery it imposes. When asked about the state after Jivanmukti (liberation while living), he humorously declines to speculate, stating that such discussions are a feast for the ego. He concludes by saying, "To know, be."
