Acharya Prashant responds to a question about finding the purpose of existence and inner happiness. He begins by questioning the concept of an "inner smile," explaining that self-knowledge is not about attaining a special kind of happiness or smile. Instead, it is about not being overly concerned with happiness or sadness. He clarifies that happiness and sadness are conditioned and predetermined reactions to external events, triggers, and various stimuli. The speaker dismisses the romanticized image of a spiritual person having an "inner smile" or "inner laughter." He then addresses the questioner's use of the word "intuition," stating that it is not wisdom but a pre-programmed, physical conditioning resulting from evolution. Intuition is a biological reaction, a product of evolution, and has no divine or metaphysical origin. To illustrate this, he gives the example of a baby rabbit instinctively becoming alert to a hissing sound, a survival mechanism embedded in its DNA over millions of years of evolution. He emphasizes that intuition is purely physical and that misplaced respect is often given to it in the field of spirituality. Finally, Acharya Prashant explains that the question "What is the purpose of our existence?" is, in itself, the purpose. The purpose of life is to address and heal the restlessness and suffering within. He states that we are born with a lot of internal chaos that is seeking resolution. The purpose is to find the wisdom to heal this suffering, to answer and provide a solution for oneself. This process is what is known by various names like realization, self-realization, enlightenment, liberation, or yoga. It is about healing the chaotic, anarchic, and unwise parts of the mind.
