Acharya Prashant addresses the question of how to know one's inner state by suggesting specific questions for self-inquiry. One should ask, "To what extent is my life pre-programmed? To what extent is my life routine-driven?" A good way to assess this is to question if one has the freedom to drop their ways today. He explains that people often mistake their routines, patterns, and conditioning for choices. A useful question is, "Do you even have the freedom to un-choose?" He states that if you truly chose something, you must also have the freedom to un-choose it, as choosing boasts of the presence of freedom. He advises asking oneself, "If I want to un-choose, can I? If I want to not follow the patterns that I do, can I?" Answering these questions reveals the bondages, obligations, and debts one carries, exposing the fact of slavery in an open and brutal way. The speaker points out that the mind deceptively seeks comfort and avoids being attentive, alert, and conscious. It might convince itself it has reached its destination while still on the journey, like sleeping on the pavement believing it's home. To counter this, one must challenge their comforts and ask, "What if I do not have what I have? Who am I then?" and question their dependence on savings, money, or prestige. One should also examine their relationships to see if they are based on freedom or if they are shackles. Discovering one's boundaries, obligations, and where freedom is lacking will show the way forward. Acharya Prashant clarifies that challenging one's boundaries does not have to be an impossible task done all at once. He advises an incremental approach, starting with something one can currently challenge. With each success, the capacity to succeed more increases. Therefore, it is important to be discreet and choose winnable battles initially. A good target is one that appears just a little impossible to win, as it challenges you and brings out your stored, unknown energy. This process of challenging boundaries reveals the extent of one's bondages. Regarding book recommendations, Acharya Prashant suggests starting with the preparatory texts (Prakaran Granth) of Vedanta, which are specifically written for beginners. He recommends works by Adi Shankaracharya, such as "Atma Bodha," "Tattva Bodha," and "Vivekachudamani," describing them as lucid texts that guide one through the Vedantic spectrum. He also mentions Zen koans and Sufi stories. He emphasizes that Vedanta is the "ABC of spirituality," and without this fundamental clarity, one should not approach more complex texts like the Ramayana or Mahabharata, as the foundational understanding would be missing.