Acharya Prashant addresses the question of whether gossiping has a role in the spiritual process. He begins by stating unequivocally that it has no role. He explains that one must understand what it is that evolves over time. The entire game of evolution occurs within Prakriti, or physical nature. All evolution has taken place in the material domain. However, the urge to be peaceful, which is the center of man's consciousness, does not evolve. It stands where it is. The center of consciousness is right next to the real thing and cannot evolve; any step of evolution would dissolve it. It has everything except freedom, and the only way for it to 'evolve' is to disappear into freedom. Therefore, the center of man's consciousness has not evolved at all. While the human brain has evolved, the mind has not and cannot. He clarifies that many things are beneficial from an evolutionary perspective, but one must ask, "beneficial to whom?" Is it beneficial to the physical complex, the person, or to the center of the mind that seeks redemption and liberation? There is a clear distinction. Gossiping, he concedes, does serve a purpose for the physical and social self. It was useful in primitive times for information exchange, survival, and finding a mate. It still serves a purpose today in networking, corporate circles, and even love affairs, which are often based on little more than gossip. Intimacy is often defined by the ability to share trivia and 'crap' with another person, which is a form of gossiping. From a spiritual perspective, however, the mind is an extremely sacred space. Gossiping is the vilest act of offense towards another, as it disturbs their peace and blemishes their inner purity. If you truly love someone, you would rather keep your troubles to yourself unless it is absolutely necessary to share. This presents a choice: are you committed to your spiritual development enough to forsake the social and physical benefits of things like gossiping? This is the real meaning of sacrifice. The spiritual path offers higher benefits, though liberation itself cannot be called a benefit, as the beneficiary dissolves. One must decide what to prioritize: the body or the liberation from bondages. The motivation for liberation comes from a deep compassion for oneself, a refusal to suffer any longer. When one has this compassion, they cannot harm another for their own gain.