Acharya Prashant explains the concept of consciousness as a dualistic state where one knows that they know, representing only a small, superficial part of total realization. He contrasts this with a vast, non-dual realization that exists beyond the reach of logic, evidence, or citations. Most human knowledge is dualistic, meaning there is a distance between the knower and the known, much like looking at a map of a river without ever touching the water. True understanding, or 'Bodha', requires closing this distance and becoming one with the subject, which consciousness cannot achieve because it relies on maintaining the 'I' as a separate entity. He uses the metaphor of a deep pit or a sea to describe the mind, where consciousness is the surface and 'Bodha' is the depth. People often stay at the surface because they are afraid that diving deep will prove their current beliefs and ego-driven lives to be false. To reach the depths of truth, one must have the courage to be proven a fool repeatedly and be willing to lose their separate identity. Acharya Prashant notes that while people often wait for a catastrophe or 'divine stick' to force them toward truth, it is far better to dive voluntarily. He emphasizes that true peace and joy are found only in the depths, beyond the superficial layers of memory and ego-preservation.
