Acharya Prashant clarifies that the essential thing in life is Truth, not companionship or love. He explains that companionship is not inherently essential. If a companion becomes a hurdle in the way of Truth, one should be prepared to do away with the companion. Companionship is not the final thing; the final thing is something else. A companion should be a medium towards that final thing, otherwise, the companion is toxic. This principle extends to love as well. Love is not essential; what is essential is Truth. The speaker acknowledges this might hurt many people. When one considers love as essential, they often get into the wrong kind of love, mistaking attraction, sensuousness, and attachment for it. Love is only valuable if it is of the kind that elevates you towards Truth. The essential thing, the core (Atma or Self), is that without which you cannot exist, and that is only Truth. If love takes you to Truth, it is fine; otherwise, it is not. To find a spiritual partner, one must approach it the same way one finds a guru. You must first know what you are seeking from that person. If you are looking for someone to accompany you to the movies, anyone will do. But if you are genuinely looking to not waste your life and seek someone who elevates you, refreshes you, and gives you freedom from the staleness you carry, then you will find the right person. The right partner is not determined by their attributes but by the intensity of your own hunger and inquiry. The purpose of every relationship and every action must be one-pointed towards liberation. You exist in agony, and therefore, you exist for liberation. One must be absolutely one-minded about this, without any wavering or second thoughts. You must test everything and everyone against this ultimate goal.
