Acharya Prashant explains that 'oldness' in a spiritual sense refers to anything that provides security to the ego or acts as a protective shield. It is not about time or objects, but a vision that uses people and things for self-preservation. This tendency to survive at any cost is driven by fear and ignorance, as the true self is indestructible and does not need saving. He defines 'Ishq' (love/passion) as the state where one values something more than their own security, becoming indifferent to self-preservation. This 'newness' is not a new thought or object, but freedom from the ancient instinct of self-protection. He clarifies that changing external things like houses or relationships is merely entertainment, not true transformation. True 'Ishq' breaks the old mental pattern of constantly worrying about 'what will happen to me.' He describes two types of relief: one that temporarily removes a threat but keeps the fearful self intact, and another that dissolves the fearful self entirely. Most people prefer the former because they are addicted to the cycle of anxiety and partial relief. He concludes that 'Ishq' is the natural urge to be free from the limitations and bondages of one's own ego. It is the courage to step out of the 'old cage' of a repetitive, suffering-filled life into the unknown.
