Acharya Prashant addresses a questioner who, after finding peace and stability through his teachings, fears reverting to their old life. The speaker explains that this fear arises because the paths to return to the old life have not yet been closed. This fear is, in fact, a fear of oneself, because even after attaining new peace and stability, the very thing that caused restlessness and instability still remains within, albeit suppressed. It is dormant but still alive in seed form, ready to sprout and spread. The speaker acknowledges that the peace and stability gained are very valuable and necessary, but they are not yet immortal or eternal; they can be taken away. This is why the fear exists. This fear is beneficial because the situation it points to—reverting to the old ways—happens to many. Countless people advance on the spiritual path, feel relief, and think everything is fine, but after a year or two, they are back to square one. This happens because while they found peace, the restlessness was not completely eradicated. It is possible to find peace and knowledge, yet have restlessness and ignorance remain within in seed form. To overcome this fear, one must close all paths that lead back to being restless and unstable. When you want to reach a destination not for tourism but to build a home, it is necessary not just to cross the river but to burn the bridge behind you. When moving towards a new destination and leaving the old one behind, one must not leave the path back to the old world intact. People often do this, thinking it provides extra security, but this is a clever trick of the mind. The only honest reason for keeping the path back open is the thought, "If things get bad ahead, I will return." The moment you think this, you have already prepared the scene for things to get worse. To be free from this fear, the option to return must be eliminated. All bridges and contact points with the old world must be destroyed.
