Acharya Prashant critiques the popular concept of positive thinking, describing it as a modern invention that caters to the ego's desires. He explains that what an individual labels as 'positive' is entirely dependent on their conditioning and personal interests, which vary from person to person and situation to situation. He asserts that all thought is essentially negative because it is the application of the wrong instrument when seeking truth. Using a microscope to look at the stars is a metaphor for using the intellect to find the truth; he argues that truth cannot be reached through cleverness, knowledge, or any mental instrument. He emphasizes that the only way to realize the truth is through wordless, silent inquiry and total surrender. He defines surrender as the state of being alright with not knowing and accepting life even when events contradict one's plans or desires. Surrender involves dropping the need to change conditions to suit the ego's preferences. Acharya Prashant concludes that even the study of scriptures like the Upanishads is futile without this fundamental surrender, which is a state of being thankful for what is, rather than what was planned.
