Acharya Prashant explains that one should have a playful attitude towards life, similar to how a child plays with toys. Just as a child plays and then leaves the toys behind, one should not let worldly matters become so significant that they disturb one's peace. He advises against making anything that can be taken away from you your very life or heart. If you consider something external as your heart, the world will play with it, and it is bound to break. He elaborates that your own heart is called your own because it cannot go outside of you. If you make something that can go outside of you your heart, it will inevitably be broken. The world will play with your heart. Therefore, one should not make anything that can go outside of you their heart. He then references a verse from the Ashtavakra Gita, "na vanchati na shochati," which means one neither desires what is not obtained nor grieves for what is lost. This state is achieved by one whose senses are healthy, or 'swasthendriya'. Acharya Prashant further explains that 'swasthendriya' refers to the mind-sense (manendriya) being healthy, meaning it is established in the Self (Swa-stha). When the mind is not established in the world, it is healthy. He points out the beautiful coincidence in the verse where 'sampada' (fortune) is juxtaposed with 'apada' (calamity), indicating they are two sides of the same coin. If you make worldly things your fortune, you will have to accept calamity as well. The relationship with Prakriti (nature/the material world) should be one of playfulness, like a child with toys. This playful attitude is the same as witness-consciousness (sakshitva). He concludes by quoting Kabir Saheb, who says that calling false happiness 'happiness' is a delusion of the mind. The world is like a snack for Kaal (Time/Death), with some in its mouth and some in its lap. The entire spiritual path is about learning how to play. The joy lies in the absurdity of life, knowing that the toy will be snatched away tomorrow, yet being in full enjoyment today. The one who needs a reason to be happy can never be happy because there is no sufficient reason for joy in Prakriti. The only real joy is causeless joy, which is आनंद (Anand).
