How to identify a fake person?

Following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: Acharya Ji, I neither understand fakeness nor the depth hidden in words. If someone says, “Nice to meet you, let’s meet again sometime,” I start thinking that the person actually wants to meet me. Someone says, “You will get this contract,” I believe in him.

Such fake assurances are given by so many people to so many people, but I take assurances for real, and then I am never prepared for the bad days.

How to understand ‘fakeness’?

Acharya Prashant: You have said that you do not understand the fakeness and depth, you cannot tell them apart. You are saying that you do not know the false against the Truth.

Understanding is not possible in a climate of expectation, or laziness, or greed, or fear.

Somebody tells you that you will get the contract, and you are very inclined to believe him. Why? Because there is a pleasure in believing that good news are coming. That’s the entire principle of hope. That’s why this entire world runs on hope. That’s why the world is duped by hope.

People tell you that the contract is coming your way. Why don’t you ask, “Why do they never tell me that the contract is never coming your way?”? Because looking at you, they know what you want to hear, they know that you want to hear that the contract is coming your way.

You are carrying that desire, and desire is greed. They know your desire, therefore they are able to fool you.

Understanding is one’s nature.

If understanding appears to be absent, it is because a lot more is needlessly present.

Krishna tells Arjun, “The Truth is covered just as fire is covered with smoke.” And what is it that covers the Truth? Kama (desire). You have quoted as an example — “Nice to meet you. Let’s meet again in sometime.” Why does that fellow not tell you straightaway in your face, “I hate you and I would never want to meet you again”?

Please enquire into that.

It is because that fellow very well knows what you want to hear. You want to hear that you are likable, you want to hear that the relationship is not being snapped…