Acharya Prashant, responding to a question about a quote from Sri Ramana Maharshi, clarifies the relationship between the self and the other. He states that the other is not the same as the self. Instead, the other makes the self what it appears to be, and the self creates the other that it sees. The proper relationship between the two must be understood. He explains this through a material lens, stating that all that is material is created by the environment. When one speaks of 'I' and the 'other,' one is referring to two material entities defined by their forms and boundaries. The very concept of otherness or separatedness is a feature of the material world, where objects are characterized by their limits. The speaker elaborates that since 'you' as a material entity are a product of your environment (the 'other'), and the environment is everything that is not you, a deep, interdependent relationship exists. You are a product of the other, and the other is a product of you. You cannot exist without the other, and the other is meaningless without you; therefore, the separation is fictional. To remove the other is to cease to exist, and to remove yourself is to remove the concept of the other. This interdependence has practical implications. To improve yourself, you must improve your environment. When you give to the other, you are giving to yourself. This is why Sri Ramana Maharshi's statement holds true. This understanding also reveals the 'fallacy of individual liberation,' as it is not possible for one person to be liberated alone. Fundamentally, all beings share the same tendencies, fears, and potential for greatness. The perceived differences are superficial; if you look into another's eyes, you see yourself.
