Acharya Prashant responds to a questioner who feels a dilemma about social interactions, specifically about being compelled to respect people he dislikes and being unable to show affection to those he likes, such as wanting to hug the speaker himself. Acharya Prashant explains that these compulsions are not real but are products of one's own beliefs. He states that giving respect to those who are not worthy of it is not a compulsion but a decision. One can choose not to give them respect and be prepared to bear any potential loss. Similarly, if one is unable to get close to those who are deserving of respect and love, this too is not a compulsion but a result of one's own beliefs. Addressing the questioner's desire to hug him, Acharya Prashant says that if he had done so, the session would have started in an even more delightful way. He clarifies that there would have been no impropriety or indecency in it, as he is not a saint or a great soul, but just an ordinary person like the questioner, a puppet of flesh and bone. He emphasizes that they are both engaged in a conversation, and his speaking is not possible without the audience's contribution. Therefore, the questioner's value in the interaction is no less than his own. He further elaborates that the ego finds great pleasure in sitting on the chair he occupies, being called 'Acharya Ji', and holding the microphone. Conversely, the ego feels bad about sitting where the questioner is. He asserts that at this moment, the questioner is doing a more commendable and praiseworthy job. He points out that while it is his routine to be awake at this late hour, the audience members, who are householders, have broken their routines to be there. Therefore, their effort is more deserving of praise. He concludes by reiterating that the idea of not being able to embrace him is a baseless belief, not a compulsion.
