Acharya Prashant explains that a person of steady wisdom, or a 'Sthitapragya', is not bound by conventional images of a saint, yogi, or ascetic. Such a person is free from imagination, bondage, and the fluctuations of the intellect. They do not shy away from worldly enjoyments or great luxuries because retreating would imply a fear of untruth or seeing something other than the ultimate reality. Whether living in a palace or a cave, eating delicious food or going hungry, they remain liberated because liberation is their very nature. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that Ashtavakra provides freedom from spirituality itself by shattering the common religious mind's preconceived notions of how a wise person should behave. A truly wise person can engage in worldly activities without becoming the 'doer' or the 'enjoyer', remaining untouched by their actions. The discourse further clarifies the concept of 'Nirvasana' or being without desire. Acharya Prashant describes desire as that which 'resides' within the mind and refuses to leave. To be liberated is to be evicted from these mental attachments. He notes that while an ignorant person is consumed by desire, a wise person remains free even while experiencing it. The wise person sees the reality of things—such as the transience of the human body—even while engaging with the world. True spirituality does not require escaping the world; rather, it is the ability to remain established in the truth while being in the world. Acharya Prashant warns against looking for external signs, miracles, or specific behaviors to identify a realized soul, as their state is internal and not defined by outward rituals or supernatural acts.
