Acharya Prashant explains that one does not simply become a philosopher as a career choice; rather, life itself makes one a philosopher. To truly understand philosophy, one must live life in a way that its layers are peeled back and its raw reality is exposed. This process requires coming very close to life, which is inherently dangerous because it involves the breaking of the lies that serve as our backbone and breath. He emphasizes that becoming a philosopher involves enduring significant suffering and receiving 'kicks' from life, as seen in the lives of great thinkers like Soren Kierkegaard and Spinoza, who faced immense personal struggle and persecution to reach their realizations. He distinguishes between literature and philosophy by noting that while literature allows for fiction and personal expression, philosophy is a systematic study of how the world, life, and humans function internally. Philosophy can take many forms, from the aphoristic style of the Upanishads to the dense volumes of Karl Marx or the plays of existentialists. Acharya Prashant asserts that whatever is expressed after experiencing the hardships of life becomes philosophy. There is no fixed formula or path to becoming a philosopher other than observing life and learning from its challenges. Addressing a personal concern about emotional fluctuations and anger, Acharya Prashant clarifies that a person is neither their studious self nor their angry self. Instead, one is the 'seer' or witness who can observe both states and their reactions. He defines true philosophy as the ability to see the object and the observer together. When one can witness the external events, including the body's reactions, and their impact on the self simultaneously, that is the beginning of true philosophical insight.
