Questioner: What is the role of persuasion in teaching? Is it alright if teaching involves a certain degree of persuasion? If yes, why must one be persuaded?
Acharya Prashant: Freedom is available only to a free mind. A mind that has been conditioned, deeply enslaved, moves from no other factor except persuasion. He does not recognize any other factor. Even to wake him up you have to persuade him initially, for a little period. If you leave him to himself, he will only do what he has been conditioned to do. A free man can be left to himself, he must be left to himself, but a conditioned man cannot be left to himself.
Freedom is for those who deserve it. You surely deserve it, but right now you have convinced yourself that you are not free. You have deeply convinced yourself that you require the force of habit and other things.
Questioner: Why is there always a sense of disagreement when it comes to these matters?
Acharya Prashant: Why do you tend to disagree with whatever comes—is that what you are asking?
Questioner: Yes.
