Acharya Prashant responds to questions about the truth of the universe and the purpose of the soul by advising the questioner to first investigate the origin of these questions in their mind. He suggests that such questions are not organic but have been "shoved in." Before asking about the soul's purpose, one must first ask who told them they even have a soul. He argues that whoever introduced the concept of the soul must have also explained its purpose. When the questioner clarifies that the soul (Atma) refers to the Self (Swa), a state beyond the mind called "Turiya," Acharya Prashant offers a principle: "Either don't listen at all, or listen completely." He extends this to those who teach, saying they should either teach fully or not at all. He sarcastically dismisses lofty concepts like "Turiya," advising a focus on simple daily actions like having a good breakfast and brushing one's teeth, suggesting there is nothing beyond this immediate reality. Acharya Prashant connects these grand spiritual inquiries to physical and mental discomfort, humorously stating that when the body is unwell from improper food, a "gas of such questions rises." He urges the questioner to first become comfortable with ordinary life issues. He points out the hypocrisy of talking about "Turiya" while being unable to handle simple daily interactions and situations. He emphasizes that observing one's reactions to mundane things like the summer heat, a hot car, or haggling with a rickshaw driver is far more important and revealing than contemplating the soul's purpose. He argues that talking about the soul's purpose is an escape, a way to hide one's own real, often base, daily intentions. He says people don't talk about their own purposes but are keen to discuss the soul's. This, he says, is the biggest lie: that there is some fundamental flaw in a person. He asserts that fundamentally, everyone is complete and innocent. The problem is the superficial dirt—lust, anger, greed, delusion—that has settled on top. Instead of cleaning this surface dirt, people try to "cleanse" the already pure soul, which is like drinking shampoo for internal cleansing. He concludes by advising the questioner to focus on the life they are actually living and the race they are a part of, as that is where honesty lies.
