Acharya Prashant explains that the ego constantly seeks to expand and accumulate, which is the root cause of suffering. He presents two paths for the self: one where it tries to grow and flourish according to its own desires, leading to misery, and another where it surrenders itself to something far greater. He emphasizes that true liberation comes from offering one's existence in service to the Truth rather than protecting one's current state or ideas. Most people choose the path of self-preservation, but only a few choose the path of surrender, which is the only way to attain freedom. He further discusses the concept of going against one's own nature as a spiritual practice. When attracted to one end of duality, such as sorrow, one should challenge it by choosing its opposite, like laughter. However, the ultimate goal is to transcend both ends of duality—joy and sorrow—and reach a state of silence or non-duality. He points out that the ego finds nourishment in both pleasure and pain; while pleasure is a direct choice, sorrow is often an indirect choice because the mind enjoys the 'spice' or drama it provides. Both are ultimately materials for the ego to sustain itself. Finally, Acharya Prashant clarifies that the Truth or the Self is already present and available, but the individual's own ego acts as the primary obstacle. He interprets the phrase 'save what is yours from yourself' to mean that we are our own enemies, hiding the 'diamond' of peace within our own pockets and then searching for it everywhere else. He concludes that memory only holds worldly experiences and objects, whereas the Truth cannot be remembered as a thought or object. Therefore, one must clear away the dust of memories to live in that which is beyond memory.
