Acharya Prashant addresses a question from a woman whose son, a university student, believes that soldiers do not deserve special respect because, like any other professional, they work for a salary. The son also considers emotional attachment to the nation unnecessary. Acharya Prashant begins by refuting the notion that all work is the same, calling it a shallow idea. He explains that there is a fundamental difference in the quality of work, which depends on the inner state of the doer. One can work out of love and compassion for a higher ideal, or out of selfishness, hatred, and malice. The choice of profession itself stems from these different states of mind. He argues that there are always two paths: doing the right thing or the wrong thing; work that helps many versus work done solely for self-interest; and work that leads towards liberation versus work that leads to bondage. Applying this to the role of a soldier, he states that while a soldier receives a salary for their bodily needs, their profession is unique. They knowingly choose a path where they might have to sacrifice their body, which is the deepest attachment for any human. This willingness to put one's life on the line is a sacrifice no other professional makes, and it is this that makes them worthy of special respect. The salary is for their sustenance, not a payment for their life, which is priceless. Furthermore, Acharya Prashant distinguishes between a country (Desh) and a nation (Rashtra). He explains that a country is not merely a political or geographical entity like a company that exists for profit. A nation is founded on shared, high ideals and values. The country is the physical body, while the nation is its soul. The country of India is the political expression of the Indian nation, which is rooted in timeless spiritual values. Therefore, the country is venerable, and its protectors, the soldiers, are also worthy of respect because they defend the physical entity that allows these spiritual values to manifest and survive. Finally, addressing the negative perception of nationalism as a cause for war, Acharya Prashant clarifies that ideologies themselves are not the problem. The root cause of all conflict is the darkness within the human mind—the ego, violence, hatred, and insecurity. People use ideologies like nationalism as a mask for their inner turmoil. The solution is not to condemn ideologies but to work on purifying the inner self. A true and high national ideal would be for every citizen to conquer their own ego and weaknesses. The wars in the world are not due to principles but because man is power-hungry and bloodthirsty.