Acharya Prashant explains that a fragmented and displaced mind is the root of suffering. Usually, the mind is divided into many pieces, filled with conflicting desires, attractions, and repulsions. Yoga, in its first essential aspect, means the integration of these scattered fragments so that the mind can move or rest as a single, unified whole. However, simply unifying the mind is not enough, as it can become unified toward falsehood or the ego. Therefore, the second aspect of Yoga is the centering of the unified mind upon the Truth or the Soul. He describes the mind as broken glass scattered by time, experiences, and conditioning. To practice Yoga, one must first engage in self-observation to see where the mind is scattered. By observing the mind's movements without indulgence, one realizes the falseness and hypocrisy of its various fragments. This realization acts like a broom, gathering the scattered pieces through the process of negation and detachment. Once the mind is gathered and its false attractions are cut, it must be directed toward the Truth to find actual peace. He compares this to moving away from dirty water and seeking clean water to quench thirst. Thus, Yoga begins with keen observation and knowledge and culminates in devotion and surrender. He concludes that while many distorted versions of Yoga exist today, the true essence lies in this two-fold path of knowledge and devotion.
