Acharya Prashant addresses the prevalent notion of 'listening to your own voice, not others'. He explains that the Guru's purpose is to liberate the disciple from these very ideas. These popular concepts do not bring real joy because one is distressed without understanding the cause. It is one's true nature that calls, and this call manifests externally as the Guru's invitation to the disciple. The disciple is trapped in these notions, believing they can think for themselves and live their own way. While the principle of living one's own life is correct, it is only applicable when one truly knows what 'oneself' is. For someone who lacks self-knowledge, the claim 'I will follow my own path' is merely an expression of societal conditioning. The speaker challenges the listener to examine their life and identify how much of it is genuinely their own. He asserts that individuals are completely filled with external influences, with nothing being truly personal, original, or real. People have labeled the fake as real and consider others' ideas as their own. When the Guru attempts to remove these false constructs, the disciple often rebels, mistakenly believing their individuality is being threatened. The speaker elaborates that our choices are primarily determined by two sources: societal teachings and bodily dictates. Society prescribes what to eat, wear, speak, and value, and we internalize these as our own desires. Similarly, the body has its own urges. Often, societal norms and bodily urges align, reinforcing the illusion that these desires are our own. These are the things we deeply consider 'our own'. When people insist on their 'own' point of view, they are usually just voicing their conditioning. The speaker states that he is waiting for the real 'you' to speak, and only then can there be true respect. He cannot respect the conditioned self because it is not real. The real is flawless, while the conditioned self is full of flaws. The entire effort of a Buddha is to help you find your own existence, which is only possible for that which truly 'is', not for dreams or illusions.
