Acharya Prashant addresses the issue of misconceptions and superstitions prevalent in society. He asserts that the first step to combat this is to make science education compulsory up to class 12. He expresses his frustration with the unscientific use of terms like "positive and negative vibrations" and "energies," stating that those who use them lack a basic understanding of physics. He questions the scientific basis of such claims, asking for measurable proof like a waveform or an equation. The speaker identifies the core problem as illiteracy on both scientific and spiritual levels, leading people to believe anything without inquiry. He points out that while people may be scientifically illiterate, they still enjoy the fruits of technology, like mobile phones. He gives the example of individuals who might dismiss the COVID virus as a hoax yet continue to use technology derived from science. This lack of inquiry extends to religious practices, where the true meaning of festivals is lost. For instance, Diwali becomes about crackers and sweets, and Bakrid is reduced to slaughter, with the spiritual essence forgotten. This tendency to believe without questioning is described as inner laziness or "tamas." Acharya Prashant explains that this inclination towards belief over knowledge is rooted in our biological nature. Humans are not inherently designed to know, because knowing can be dangerous to the biological self and can shatter one's established identity. People prefer to remain in ignorance because knowing their inner darkness would place the responsibility on them to clean it up, an effort they wish to avoid. He defines true freedom not as the liberty to do what one wants, but as the freedom that questions everything and accepts only what is real, having a deep distaste for fakeness. He further elaborates that most desires are not our own but are externally imposed, for example, by marketing. Fulfilling these second-hand desires is a form of bondage, not freedom. True spirituality, he concludes, is about being free from all beliefs and having a commitment solely to the Truth. He emphasizes that one is not obliged to honor anything except the Truth, as only the Truth is truly sacred. All other things, including relationships and experiences held as sacred, are dispensable if they are found to be untrue.
