To help yourself, help the other be free of yourself

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

Question: Acharya Ji, What does Osho mean when he says, “You help the other be alone so that you do not remain a need for the other?”

Acharya Prashant (AP): This is with reference to a relationship. There is a relationship, a relationship apparently involves two. And if the two are lonely, what are they doing in that relationship? Just fulfilling their own self-interests.

Because the lonely person has nothing but ‘himself’ in his world. The world exists for his sake so that he might be fulfilled. For the lonely person, who is paramount? “Himself, his needs.” And his needs are great! Why his needs are great? Because he is missing the Absolute, so his need is the?

Listeners (L): Absolute.

AP: And if your need is Absolute, nothing can fulfill your need. The Absolute is Infinite. If you are missing a little, then a little can fulfill you. If you are missing a little, then a little can fulfill you. But what if you are missing the Absolute. Then what would fulfill you? What hope is there? Too bad.

Two lonely fellows in a relationship, both are missing the Absolute. Both are really missing the Absolute. And both are trying to find in each other, the…