Acharya Prashant addresses the concern of whether one needs to read books by others to understand oneself. He uses the analogy of a dark room where an outsider can turn on the light, but the act of seeing remains the individual's responsibility. While external sources like wise men or books can provide initial guidance, the actual understanding is entirely personal and belongs to the individual once it is grasped. He explains that conditioning—layers of rubbish from family, society, and education—comes from the outside and obscures one's vision. An external guide can help remove these layers, but the individual must be the one to perceive reality. He emphasizes that while one might initially need to pay attention to the words of others to know oneself, life itself eventually becomes an open book. By observing one's daily routine from morning until night with full attention, the need for external books diminishes. He asserts that the most important factor is one's own attention and intelligence. Even if an author writes a book, it originates from their own understanding of life. Acharya Prashant encourages being attentive and observant in one's own life, noting that if one is lost or inattentive, no external help can be effective.
