Acharya Prashant explains that the concepts of lack and influence are both mental states rooted in duality. He clarifies that while 'Swabhav' (one's true nature) is often called a state, it is actually the absence of all mental states. Feelings of lack arise from a false sense of incompleteness. When this incompleteness is acknowledged as it is, it is called 'lack'; when it tries to present itself as completeness through external means, it is called 'influence'. He emphasizes that mental waves or thoughts only exist for unfinished tasks; where there is true completeness, no thought or emotion is necessary. Therefore, any feeling of lack regarding the self is inherently false, as the true self is always complete. He distinguishes between practical lack, such as missing food or money, and existential lack. While physical or worldly resources may be scarce due to circumstances, the lack of the ultimate—truth, love, joy, and liberation—is always a delusion. He asserts that while external factors might cause financial poverty, an individual is solely responsible for their own lack of joy by falsely linking it to external objects. The ultimate reality or the soul cannot be stolen by time or the world. He warns that seeking 'influences' to cure a perceived 'lack' only deepens the delusion. A true friend or Guru does not provide external remedies to cover up perceived flaws but helps one realize that they were never flawed or incomplete to begin with. 'Swabhav' cannot be described in words, but being established in it brings a divine grace to one's entire existence.
