Acharya Prashant explains the distinction between external time and psychological time. External time is measured by physical changes in the material world, such as the constant rate of decay in radioactive elements, which remains consistent over thousands of years. In contrast, internal or psychological time is the rate of change within human consciousness. This internal time is subjective and depends on one's permission or state of mind. For instance, moments of suffering feel like an eternity, while moments of joy seem to pass in an instant. This happens because the ego constantly seeks change to fix perceived internal problems, creating the sensation of a ticking internal clock. Acharya Prashant further elaborates that the goal of life is to reach a state where no further internal change is necessary. This state is described as being free from the internal clock, or 'Kaal Mukti' (liberation from time), which is synonymous with 'Jivan Mukti' (liberation while living). When the entity that seeks change—the ego—is dissolved, the internal clock stops. While external needs like food or hygiene continue to exist for the body, they no longer affect the internal state of the liberated person. He concludes by emphasizing that one must understand the nature of their own consciousness in the present rather than asking abstract questions about its eternal nature, as consciousness is tied to the individual's existence.
