In response to a question about whether knowledge of Vedanta can be gained from books and videos without a living master, Acharya Prashant states that theoretically, it is possible. He then recounts an experience at a Gita Press shop, which had hundreds of spiritual titles. A young man approached him, saying that despite reading spiritual texts for a long time, he couldn't comprehend them. Acharya Prashant then guided him to two specific books that he knew would be helpful. This illustrates the practical problem: with so many books available, many of which contradict each other, one doesn't know where to begin. Different sects and communities prioritize different texts, making it difficult to choose the right one. Even if one finds the right book, comprehension is not simple. The speaker notes that even with a translation of the Bhagavad Gita, understanding concepts like Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajna on one's own is very difficult. Acharya Prashant explains that there are different levels of communication with the Truth. The first level is the text itself. The next level is a video, which is slightly more useful as it includes visuals along with words. A higher level is an interactive session, and the highest is face-to-face interaction. He emphasizes that books are the bedrock of any teaching, providing authenticity, authority, and credibility because their words are not flimsy or ephemeral like personal thoughts and opinions. A book's content is set in concrete, frozen in time, and does not change. Any teaching that does not include a textbook is prone to duplicity and mischief. However, a living teacher can do something a book cannot: perceive the student's state, look into their eyes, and read their mind. The speaker clarifies that while he has relied a lot on books in his own life, the ideal situation is having both books and a teacher. If one cannot have both, it is better to have books alone. The worst and most dangerous proposition is to have a teacher who has nothing to do with books, as this leads to regression rather than progress. The problem with having books without a teacher is a small one; the task of realization just becomes more difficult and may take longer. In contrast, having a teacher without books is a huge problem.
