Acharya Prashant explains that the distinction between the self and the other is fundamentally fictional. He argues that in the material world, objects are defined by boundaries, shapes, and sizes, leading to the perception of separation. However, since all material entities are products of their environment, the self is a product of the other, and the other is a product of the self. He clarifies that the environment is simply the total minus the individual; therefore, one cannot exist without the other. This interconnectedness means that helping the environment is effectively helping oneself, as an improved environment ensures the improvement of the individual. Acharya Prashant further discusses the fallacy of individual liberation, asserting that it is impossible for a single human being to be liberated in isolation. He points out that the fundamental tendencies of all humansâsuch as fear, possessiveness, and the yearning for liberationâare identical. While external conditioning and culture may differ, the core human experience remains the same. He concludes that seeing the other as different is a misunderstanding, as both the self and the other share the same potential for greatness and the same vulnerabilities, making them mirror images of one another.
