Acharya Prashant explains that humans are never truly alone. Even in a closed, empty room, the world persists within the mind as thoughts, memories, and imaginations. This mental world is a fabrication of the ego and conforms to one's existing beliefs. In contrast, interacting with the actual world through relationships brings one face-to-face with facts that can shatter these mental illusions. He clarifies that true solitude, or 'Kaivalya', does not depend on physical isolation but on maintaining a center of non-duality while the world exists on the periphery. Attempting to physically exclude others is futile because even a color or a name can trigger thoughts of the 'other'. He emphasizes that one should not give infinite value to any worldly person or object. Only Truth should occupy the highest seat in one's heart. When a person is elevated to the status of God or Truth, the relationship becomes exploitative and violent. This happens because we expect divine qualities like eternal bliss and liberation from ordinary beings who are incapable of providing them. This unmet expectation leads to frustration, resentment, and conflict. To maintain healthy and peaceful relationships, one must keep worldly entities in their proper, relative place and remain dedicated only to the Truth. Acharya Prashant further notes that our relationship with the world serves as a mirror for our relationship with the Truth. If one is constantly stressed or fearful of the world, it indicates a lack of surrender to the Truth. He advises being a witness to worldly interactions rather than becoming infatuated. By not making anyone their primary priority, individuals can avoid causing and receiving mutual suffering. He concludes by warning against the worldly tendency of trying to extract ultimate bliss from material things, comparing it to trying to squeeze butter out of soil; it is an impossible task that only leads to exhaustion and blame.
