Acharya Prashant explains that the Indian custom of adding 'ji' to a person's name has a deep spiritual foundation rooted in Vedanta. He clarifies that while a name refers to the physical body and a surname refers to the mind and history, 'ji' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Shri'. 'Shri' represents abundance, auspiciousness, and the true self or Atman. By adding 'ji', one is reminded that they are much more than just a body and a mind; it points to the eternal truth that exists before and after the physical identity. He contrasts the Vedantic approach with that of the Buddha. While the Buddha might remain silent on one's true identity or suggest one has no name at all, Vedanta acknowledges the body and mind as facts but encourages identification with something higher. Acharya Prashant notes that in modern times, this has become a hollow social custom used for respect or simple affirmation without understanding its original meaning. He suggests that using 'ji' as an affirmative statement could ideally mean agreeing with the truth, though most people use it without such depth.