Acharya Prashant explains that humans are so accustomed to living with problems that they feel a sense of emptiness when those problems are removed. This emptiness often leads people back to their old troubles because they lack a higher purpose like love. He points out that most people live in a state of violence, either trying to protect themselves or attack others. When truth begins to enter one's life and the old falsehoods depart, the resulting discomfort or 'emptiness' should be resisted with the same energy one previously used to resist the truth. He emphasizes that while the path of truth involves some pain, it is a 'small pain' compared to the 'great suffering' of living in ignorance. He further elaborates that the suffering found in the world increases over time, whereas the discomfort experienced while following the truth or a teacher gradually diminishes. He criticizes the tendency of people to endure immense suffering from the world without complaint, yet cry out over the slightest discomfort on the path of truth. Using the concept of 'Stockholm Syndrome,' he explains how the ego develops a defense mechanism to cope with abuse. Instead of admitting defeat or victimhood, the mind pretends to be in love with its oppressor to save face. He concludes that people often mislabel their sources of misery as 'love' or 'friendship' simply to avoid the harsh reality of their own exploitation.
