Acharya Prashant begins by presenting two paths in life: one is to become a corpse, and the other is to endure the pain that comes with being alive. He asserts that it is far better to bear the pain than to become a corpse, even though most people choose the latter. He advises the young audience to choose their path, as everyone must. He was certain that he did not want to live like a corpse, as life is not meant to be lived like a stone or a chemical before death. Responding to a child's question, "Who are we?", Acharya Prashant explains that right now, the child is a question-asking boy. You are what you are doing. There is no fixed, definite answer to this question. He states, "Consciousness is choice. You are what you choose to be." He illustrates this with an example: a very learned scholar who is burning with jealousy over a small matter. At that moment, he is not a scholar but a petty, jealous ego. You are what you are right now. There is no permanent stamp or degree. You have the full capacity and right to instantly change what you are. Consciousness means choice, and whatever you choose to be, you become, not in the future, but right now. Addressing a question about idol worship, Acharya Prashant explains that idols are reminders. The logo of an institution or a picture of a building are all idols. They are not the real thing but serve to remind you of something higher. The purpose of an idol is to be a gateway to the formless. If the idol becomes an end in itself, its purpose is lost. He clarifies that there is no special energy in an idol; its utility lies in being a symbol of ideals that one should remember. He dismisses concepts like 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) as later-day rituals and hypocrisy. He further explains that being sensitive means not turning away from any fact of life, not being a coward. We become insensitive because we fear that knowing the truth about the world and ourselves will be painful and disrupt our established routines. This insensitivity is a choice to be a corpse to avoid pain. He connects this to the idea of fatalism, where people believe a higher power controls everything. This belief, he says, stems from a desire to avoid responsibility. Philosophy, in contrast, asserts that your life is in your own hands. There is no external entity, be it God or planets, controlling your destiny. You are, and this nature is, and the relationship you forge with it is your life.
