Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the societal obsession with power and prestige, where the influential are heard regardless of their words, while the powerless are ignored. He begins by questioning the premise, asking, "Suppressed by whom?" He points out that the questioner has already described the world as foolish, a place where people are swayed by worthless nonsense from those with authority, and cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood. He then asks why one would seek prestige and validation from such a foolish society, stating that the one who seeks prestige from a fool is even more foolish. The speaker acknowledges that one might argue for the need for social power to do good for others, even for loved ones who might not listen to a powerless person. However, he warns to be very cautious about this desire. One must introspect deeply to see if the intention is genuinely to help others or if it is the ego's desire to rule and dominate. He notes that even the biggest governments operate in the name of public welfare, so one's true intentions can be deceptive. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that before seeking any external power, one must first possess 'Aatmabal' (self-power or inner strength). He differentiates this from 'Manobal' (morale or mental strength). Morale is always dependent on the lure of a result; the mind needs a goal or an incentive to act. In contrast, self-power is not dependent on circumstances or outcomes. It is like a lamp whose nature is to give light, regardless of the darkness. Self-power is the flow of life energy from a center of clarity, an unconditional expression of one's nature without concern for the result. It is the realization, "I am a lamp, what else can I do but shine?" He concludes that if one possesses this inner strength, the necessary external power—be it wealth, followers, or physical strength—will manifest on its own, though not necessarily according to one's preconceived plans or expectations. Therefore, the primary focus should be on cultivating self-power. When one has self-power, the external power needed to accomplish the right work will follow.
