Acharya Prashant explains that one can find freedom from the thought of death either by coming completely close to it or by becoming fully immersed in living. He points out that for most people, death is merely a thought or a concept rather than a known reality. These thoughts, whether good or bad, serve to strengthen the ego and maintain fear. He suggests that the fear of death is often linked to a search for excitement or a greed for something new in the afterlife. To be free from the fear of death, one must first stop being afraid of worldly figures and situations in daily life, as all fears are essentially the same. Regarding the influx of thoughts in modern life, he advises not to control them but to remain in the depths of one's being, much like a fish staying deep in the ocean to avoid being hit by stones thrown at the surface. He warns against coming to the surface out of greed for worldly attractions, which leads to suffering. When listening to spiritual discourse, he emphasizes that one should not analyze or try to manipulate the information. Instead, one should simply listen and let the words work naturally, similar to how medicine functions without the need for constant monitoring. Finally, he defines alertness not as a form of self-policing but as internal honesty. It is the act of not denying or lying about what one already knows to be true. He asserts that everyone inherently understands the truth, but fear and greed cause them to suppress it. Therefore, spiritual practice is not about learning something entirely new, but about having the courage to acknowledge the truth that is already present within.
