Acharya Prashant begins by questioning the very premise of needing safety. He asks what it is that one is trying to save, pointing out that only something which is at risk or threatened demands protection. He explains that we all have a persistent sense of being under siege, as if surrounded by enemies, which creates a feeling of being threatened, as if something is about to be taken away or lost. This feeling compels us to protect it, yet we rarely inquire into what this threatened thing is or why we feel so insecure. The speaker elaborates that this deep-seated insecurity manifests in numerous ways. People seek degrees, relationships, money, and large houses to feel less insecure. They argue to prove their points, surround themselves with like-minded people, and belong to crowds or societies, all in an effort to feel safe. He emphasizes that only an afraid person searches for safety, and the fundamental question to ask is, "Why are we afraid all the time?" The fear is of losing something, but one must investigate what it is that can actually be lost. Acharya Prashant clarifies that whatever comes from the outside can be lost. Only that which is given by others, such as reputation, can be taken back by them. This dependence on the external is the root of fear and the subsequent search for safety. Whenever one gives importance to what others provideābe it company, attachment, or reputationāone will be afraid and will want to play safe. The core of our fear lies in these external, borrowed things. He concludes by distinguishing between the real and the unreal. The real, he states, is never threatened and does not need to be saved. Only the unreal, the borrowed things, are under threat. What is truly yours can never be taken away, and what can be taken away was never truly yours to begin with, so there is no point in protecting it. Therefore, all fear is ultimately a form of stupidity.
