Acharya Prashant explores the nature of time and its intrinsic relationship with the human mind. He explains that our lives are entirely dictated by time, yet we rarely inquire into what time actually is. The mind is a continuous movement of thought, and since all thought is either memory of the past or imagination of the future, the mind itself is time. He asserts that without the thinking mode of consciousness, the individual 'I' ceases to exist, suggesting that we do not think, but rather thought 'thinks' us. This identification with thought and time creates a sense of self that is entirely dependent on the past, leading to a life of becoming, worrying, and seeking security. Acharya Prashant highlights the 'tyranny of time' where humans view themselves as products of evolution, birth, and conditioning. He references the Rishi of the Narayana Upanishad, who declares, 'Na ham kalesya' (I do not belong to time). This is a rebellion against the collective ignorance of mankind. By denying the power of time over the self, one moves from the periphery to a non-moving center. The speaker explains that while time is experienced at the periphery of the mind, the true self is the 'mother of time' and not its product. This shift in perspective allows one to rule time rather than be dominated by it. Finally, Acharya Prashant connects freedom from time to the attainment of immortality and fearlessness. Since the word for time, 'Kaal', also denotes death, being free from time means being free from the fear of death. Immortality is defined not as living forever, but as living without fear. He encourages the audience to see mental movements as mere 'dream stuff' rather than ultimate truth. By observing the mind and its conditioning, one can transcend illusions and respond to the present moment with clarity. This process is not a renunciation of the world, but a renunciation of stupidity and the beginning of truly knowing reality.
