Acharya Prashant addresses the misconception that Hindu scriptures suggest everything is predestined and controlled by Brahman. He firmly states that no authentic scripture supports this idea, dismissing it as a form of fatalism rooted in popular culture and imagination, not in Vedanta. He explains that such beliefs are contrary to the core of spirituality, which is about taking responsibility for one's life. The speaker elaborates that the individual, as the ego or 'Aham', is fundamentally characterized by choice. The very existence of the ego is predicated on its ability to choose; without choice, the ego would dissolve. Therefore, humans are not puppets controlled by an external force but are 'condemned to be a choosing agency.' This freedom of choice can be a boon or a bane. Choosing rightly leads to a heavenly life, while choosing wrongly leads to a common existence filled with suffering. He emphasizes that while random events can cause pain, suffering is always a choice resulting from one's own wrong decisions. He describes Advaita Vedanta as a philosophy of immense power that empowers the individual by eliminating all feebleness, fear, and victimhood. It does not allow one to blame circumstances or a higher power for their suffering. He posits that Vedanta is the mother of all Indian philosophies and the very essence of religion (Dharma) and spirituality itself. To be truly religious, one must embrace the principles of Vedanta, which means taking full ownership of one's choices and their consequences.