A questioner describes his predicament: his father is an addict who has sold off their ancestral property, causing the family great distress. The questioner feels torn between the societal teaching that parents are supreme and his own view of his father as unrighteous and a liar. He has tried to help his father reform, even sending him to a de-addiction center, but to no avail. Now, he has stopped communicating with his father and tries to immerse himself in work, but his mind is still troubled. He asks Acharya Prashant for guidance on what his duty (dharma) and action (karma) should be in this situation, especially when he knows the truth of the matter. Acharya Prashant responds by first acknowledging that one must take care of those from whom they have received their body and upbringing; there is a duty towards one's family. However, the crucial question is what this duty entails and from what center it should be performed. He explains that this is a subtle and complex issue. The duty exists because of the relationship—be it mother, father, or sibling—which is rooted in the past. But one cannot fulfill their true duty if they operate from the identity of a son before their parents, a brother before their siblings, or a husband before their wife. To truly fulfill the duty of a son, one must see the father not just as a 'father' but as an individual. The same applies to all relationships. Acharya Prashant elaborates on the paradox: the duty arises from the relationship, yet becoming confined to the role within that relationship prevents its true fulfillment. The traditional definitions of relationships like father-son are fundamentally based on the body. To truly do good for someone, one must help elevate their consciousness, but bodily relationships, as defined by society, leave no room for this. These relationships are based on a pre-established hierarchy (e.g., elder/younger body), which is a physical, not a conscious, distinction. He explains that it is very difficult for a son to be of real help to his father because the relationship itself is defined by the body. The moment someone becomes 'special' to you, you lose the objectivity needed to truly help them on a conscious level. When you see them as just another human being, you can address their real problems, which are common to all humans: lust, anger, delusion, greed, fear, and jealousy. To truly help someone, you must forget the bodily relationship and see them as an individual. This requires a certain distance at the level of consciousness. The questioner then mentions that he has been trying for ten years without success and is now concerned about his own well-being. Acharya Prashant advises that the decision of how much energy to invest rests on one's own compassion. He cannot give a definitive answer, as compassion is a matter of the heart, not of advice. However, he suggests that one should make a sincere and full effort to help those with whom they have a close bond. If, after repeated attempts, there is only resistance and no positive response, then a person may decide to redirect their energy where it can be more fruitful. Ultimately, the questioner must decide at what point to apply his energy elsewhere, based on his own efforts and compassion.