Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding the apparent contradiction between the spiritual teaching of not trusting oneself and the New Age philosophy that emphasizes self-trust. He explains that each person is composed of two selves. One of these selves is not worthy of trust. This untrustworthy self is the one that misleads, has led to wrong decisions in the past, and manifests as delusion, greed, and fear. Not trusting this self is, in fact, an expression of faith or trust in the other, the real Self. The speaker clarifies that what is commonly called self-confidence is often confidence in the 'no-self' or the false self. It is a belief in something that is not the true Self. This kind of confidence is talkative, insecure, and cunning. It will make grand promises and try to entice you. In contrast, the other self, the real one, is silent and knows its own worth; it does not feel the need to advertise itself. Faith (Shraddha) is the trust in this real Self. This faith is a secure and quiet state that does not depend on circumstances or outcomes. It does not have a subject because the one who has faith in the real Self is not a subject or an object. Self-confidence is always conditional and operates within a limited scope. For example, one might be confident about an exam because they have memorized the answers to five specific questions. If different questions appear, that confidence vanishes. Faith, however, is an inner preparedness that is not dependent on circumstances or results. It is a quiet, secure state. The power to negate the false comes from the Truth. The only way to be with the Truth is to continuously negate the false. You cannot directly grasp the Truth, but by negating the false, you are guided by the power of Truth. The speaker concludes by stating that the only correct source for any resolution (sankalp) is one's own suffering (dukh). Resolutions that arise from external influences, fleeting emotions, or momentary impulses will not last. One must have the courage to identify and acknowledge one's fundamental suffering. The resolution to end this suffering is the only one that is enduring and will not be broken, as it comes from the deepest, most stable part of one's being.
