Acharya Prashant explains that the Soul (Atma) is not attained through intellectual capacity or the study of scriptures, as stated in the Mundaka Upanishad. He clarifies that while the Soul is the only ultimate reality, we must focus on the mind because the Soul is eternally present and unchanging. The Soul's light is constant, but the mind has the freedom to either turn toward it or away from it. He asserts that the mind cannot directly know the Soul; instead, it must stop giving importance to worldly things. When the mind considers anything other than the Soul as significant, it remains in darkness. He highlights that both the urge to show off and the urge to hide things are indicators of deep-seated attachments that prevent one from realizing the Soul. Furthermore, he explains the play of illusion, where individuals tend to avoid the truth and the teacher precisely when they are most in need of guidance. He observes that people often hide their deepest dependencies, which have become the axis of their lives, fearing that the light of truth will take them away. This state of being distant from the Soul results in exploitation, jealousy, and a lack of love. To attain the Soul, one must be willing to let go of all worldly importance and bring their hidden attachments into the light of truth.
