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What is Truth? || Acharya Prashant (2016)
Acharya Prashant
950 views
8 years ago
Truth
Mind
Ego
Duality
Observation
Conditioning
Identification
Upanishads
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that the mind is incapable of directly reaching the transcendental or the truth because it is a product of evolution, conditioning, and sensory experience. Any attempt to name or verbalize the truth brings it down to the level of the mind's limited domain, turning it into just another mental identification or concept. He argues that the ego seeks to know the truth as an object of knowledge to gain a sense of control or security, but truth is not information to be gathered; it is that which enables the very process of knowing. Therefore, the pursuit of truth as a goal often becomes a barrier to experiencing it, as the act of wanting something declares it unavailable and distant. Instead of chasing an abstract concept of truth, Acharya Prashant suggests that the mind should humbly operate within its own legitimate domain: the observation of everyday life. He emphasizes that one must go closely and sharply into the 'false'—the routine experiences, relationships, and mental patterns—without naming or rejecting them. By observing the facts of one's life, such as jealousy, insecurity, or restlessness, without escaping into scriptures or spiritual labels, the mind can move beyond these states. He concludes that the vanishing of duality through total immersion in the present moment is the emergence of the divine, and that true spirituality lies in moment-to-moment attentiveness to one's actual conduct and relationships.