Acharya Prashant explains that the only spirituality is to know that there can be no self-help. The greatest arrogance of the ego lies in claiming that it can be of help to itself. He distinguishes between two selves: the great Self that you really are, which needs no help, and the self which you assume yourself to be, which is always in need of help. Unfortunately, this needy self also becomes the helper, which is a great tragedy. The speaker elaborates on this by categorizing people into two types. The wise, settled, and relaxed one feels no need for help, so there is no question of self-help in their case. Then there are others who feel the need to be helped. The one who feels this need unfortunately also decides to become their own helper, which is the whole absurdity of the situation. There is nobody who suffers and does not also decide to be their own messiah. If you ask someone who is suffering what is wrong, they will be able to describe it, and they will also be able to describe what would relieve their suffering. The core issue is that if you know so much about your suffering and its solution, why are you still suffering? The speaker states that this is what suffering is: you think you know. Had you really not known, you would not have been able to suffer either. Suffering is knowledge. The knowledge that you think you have about your suffering is the suffering itself. The patient is convinced they can be their own doctor, and the ignorant one is convinced they can be their own master, so they remain perpetually a patient and in ignorance. Self-help is described as the worst crime one can commit upon oneself. Spirituality begins the moment you realize that self-help is not possible and that the one who will help you is beyond you. You can never be your own helper. This realization is the beginning and the end of spirituality. It involves giving up all effort and pretense of self-help, bowing down, and saying, "I'm done with myself." The conviction that you are powerful, smart, and intelligent enough to take care of yourself is itself your burden. The helper, which is the self, is the mischief.