Acharya Prashant explains that a wish is always fulfilled in the future. Therefore, if a dying person has a wish, it implies they desire a future, which fundamentally means they do not want to die. This core wish—to not die—can never be fulfilled. For example, if a person on death row expresses a last wish to not be executed, it will not be granted. Similarly, a doctor cannot fulfill a terminally ill patient's wish to live. The entire concept of a 'last wish' is thus inconsistent and contains a lie, as the only true last wish of a dying person is to continue living. Any other expressed wish is secondary to the desire to live long enough to see it fulfilled. A person, regardless of their age, always wants to live longer to satisfy more desires, meaning no wish is ever truly the last. The tradition of asking for a last wish is not for the benefit of the dying person but serves as a lesson for the living who witness the death. It demonstrates that desire persists until the very last breath. Even when a dying person is asked if they want anything, their affirmation implies a desire to live, as wish fulfillment requires life. This custom was established by people of high consciousness to teach the living about the nature of desire—that you will perish, but your desires will not. The speaker dismisses superstitious beliefs about unfulfilled wishes causing souls to wander as foolishness. The practice is a lesson for the questioner and those surrounding the dying person. The speaker uses the metaphor, "For whom the bell tolls? It tolls for thee," to emphasize that the lesson is for the living. Every death is an opportunity to learn. It is the grace of the Giver that even through death, life teaches its intended lesson. If one is receptive, death can reveal the purpose of life. If you encounter someone who, when asked about their last wish, simply smiles, you have met someone who has transcended desire. If not, you should at least learn the lesson yourself.