Acharya Prashant explains that no philosophy is the Truth in itself; rather, it is a tool or method used to counteract the pre-existing falseness in which we live. The term 'philosophy' literally means 'love for the truth,' and it represents an attempt to express something that can obliterate this falseness. Any philosophy is, at best, an attempt to eradicate something, not the absolute truth. It may appear complex because it challenges the very foundation of our false perspectives. The one who offers a philosophy does so with the assumption that the receiver genuinely desires to be free from their falseness. The speaker asserts that philosophies themselves do not fail; it is their readers and interpreters who fail. This failure arises not from the philosophy but from a lack of personal drive for liberation. Without this inner drive, an individual will deliberately misinterpret the teachings to align with their existing falseness. Therefore, it is unjust to blame the teachers or traditions of the past. Instead, one must take responsibility for their own life and understanding. Traditions are a selfless and loving gift from past sages, a compromise presenting subtle truths in a more digestible formâthrough myths, symbols, and storiesâbecause the direct truth can be difficult for many to grasp. The intention is for the gross to lead to the subtle. However, anything created in time is subject to time and can become archaic. The knowledge from the past is a resource, but it is our responsibility to use it wisely. If we find deficiencies, we must rise to improve upon them rather than merely complaining. The speaker questions why the process of spiritual evolution and improvement seems to have stopped, asking why no one is writing an Upanishad for the 21st century. He notes that the Sanatan (eternal) flow is ever-evolving and, unlike other streams, does not claim a final book or prophet. The baton has been passed to the current generation. Ultimately, the responsibility for one's life and well-being lies with the individual. If the knowledge from the past helps one live better today, it should be used. If it does not, there is no obligation to follow it. The onus is on each person to make an informed and responsible choice. Blaming the past for one's present miseries is an evasion of this personal responsibility. Just as one who is gifted a car cannot blame the giver for their own lack of driving skills, one cannot blame the givers of ancient wisdom for one's own failure to apply it correctly.
