Acharya Prashant explains that the physical closeness and lack of personal space often observed in Indian culture stem from a corrupted interpretation of the teachings of saints. He notes that while it is considered polite in places like Finland to maintain distance, the Indian tendency to touch, pat, or ask intrusive personal questions arises from a heritage that discourages treating others as distant or alien. This behavior is rooted in the Vedantic idea of getting close to others to help them reach the truth; however, society has conveniently discarded the spiritual goal and retained only the physical proximity. This leads to a culture where the concept of private space is non-existent and people feel entitled to intrude into others' lives.