Acharya Prashant defines ego as a state where an individual lacks self-knowledge and instead derives their sense of self from external sources, such as the opinions, beliefs, and identities provided by others. He explains that ego is the absence of self-awareness, leading a person to look at themselves through the eyes of others. This dependency makes the individual a slave to the audience's praise or criticism, resulting in a life of constant fear and nervousness because their borrowed self-esteem can be taken away at any moment. When one lives in ego, their actions are dictated by the desire to please others rather than by their own authentic nature. Regarding the perceived success of egoistic people, Acharya Prashant clarifies that society respects those who achieve the goals it prescribes. He argues that such success is actually the success of society over the individual, as the person is merely acting as a slave to social commands. Society honors those who embody its values of greed, ambition, and competition, while a truly genuine and ego-free individual often faces resistance and enmity. He concludes by stating that society is a reflection of the individual; one attracts a society that matches their own state of being. By changing oneself and exercising individual intelligence, the society around the person also changes.