Acharya Prashant defines objects as entities existing in time and space, asserting that anything that can be thought of is an object. He explains that while we can perceive objects, we cannot perceive the subject. Using the analogy of light, he notes that while light illuminates objects and makes them visible, light itself cannot be seen; it is the reason for seeing but is not the object of sight. Similarly, the subject is that in whose presence everything is understood, yet the subject itself cannot be understood or thought of. If one attempts to think about the subject, it immediately becomes an object, thereby losing its true nature. He further illustrates this by comparing the subject to a fingertip that can touch all material objects but cannot touch itself. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that the individual is always the subject because the power of understanding resides within them. He argues that the subject is infinitely more important than any object, including people, places, thoughts, or society. He clarifies that what people typically identify as 'I'—such as the body, name, or past—are actually objects because they can be perceived and thought about. In conclusion, Acharya Prashant explains that the true self is the intelligence or the witness that observes all changes. Even if parts of the body or physical identities are replaced or removed, the subject remains as the one who understands and observes these processes. He posits that the subject is the constant presence that remains when all transient objects, including physical attributes and identities, come and go.
