A questioner, who has found 90% relief from OCD by following a self-help book's advice on positive thinking, asks Acharya Prashant about the concept of 'Bodh' (knowledge/enlightenment). She questions if 'Bodh' is just another, higher state of mind, since it seems to be based on memory and practice. She illustrates this with the example of the Buddha, asking if he would remain the Buddha if his memories were erased, implying that enlightenment might be a product of the mind's conditioning. Acharya Prashant responds by inverting her question: "What if you give the same memories to some random person, will he become a Buddha?" He points out that many people are born in circumstances similar to Prince Gautam, but they do not become the Buddha. He then addresses her idea that bravery is a state of mind, asking her to consider what this bravery is and if it is merely memory. He presents a subtle point for meditation: "The Buddha is not his body, but at the same time, there is no Buddha without the body." He clarifies that while superficial things can offer help, this help has various levels. He cautions that if a wrong thing, like a superficial method, provides relief, its effect is not true help but rather delusion or a misleading impact. It may appear helpful for a while, but eventually, the bubble will burst. He stresses that there is no substitute for the real thing and that positive thinking cannot replace the Buddha's wisdom. Acharya Prashant explains that the real path requires abstinence from the very things that cause sickness, such as optimism and thought patterns, which are the food of the ego. He identifies the problem in the environment and the company one keeps. He advises that to find redemption, one must turn their back on the environment and move into oneself, seeking the company of people and sources that encourage self-knowledge.
