Acharya Prashant clarifies that the stopping of time and the disappearance of the universe are simultaneous events rather than a causal relationship. He explains that even in deep sleep, the universe and time do not fully disappear because the individual remains responsive to their name or an internal alarm, indicating that the psychic self is still active. The true disappearance of time and the universe occurs when one operates from the right center, leading to a change in the meaning these concepts hold. Usually, the universe is associated with hope and fear, and time is associated with expectations from the future. When one reaches a state of realization, they become indifferent to both the world and the future. This indifference is not born of cynicism or disappointment but from the understanding that one has already reached the climax or peak of their journey. In this state, there is nowhere else to go, and the future loses its appeal. Time and the universe continue to exist as objective facts but no longer serve as psychological crutches or sources of hope for a sick psychic self. This marks the end of misery and the beginning of true life, as the longing for external healing or special future events ceases.
