Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the nature of true understanding versus the feeling of having understood. He begins by explaining that when we are told to understand something, it is not because we are ignorant, but because we already possess certain notions, wrong knowledge, and beliefs that we hold as truth. We are not ignorant (agyaani), but rather 'mis-knowing' (ku-gyaani). We possess a great deal of futile, harmful, and false knowledge that we consider to be true. Therefore, when someone like Shri Krishna asks us to understand, it implies that we must first recognize the falsehood of our existing knowledge. The process of understanding is not about acquiring new information but about dismantling the old, incorrect knowledge. The speaker elaborates that this process of dismantling is inherently painful and involves a form of internal humiliation—the acceptance that what one has believed for a long time is wrong. The ego (ahankaar) finds this humiliation unbearable and employs a trick to avoid it. It quickly claims, "I understand," to sidestep the pain of having its foundations shattered. By saying, "I understand," the ego is essentially twisting the new information to align with its pre-existing beliefs, thereby avoiding internal conflict and the necessity for change. This claim is a defense mechanism for self-preservation. To determine if one has truly understood, Acharya Prashant offers two tests. The first is to ask if the new knowledge caused any internal turmoil or pain. Did it feel like a blow? Did something inside break? If not, true understanding has not occurred, as learning is not possible without being hurt. The second test is the application of this new understanding in real life. He compares this to learning physics: the theory might seem easy, but the real test is applying it to solve complex numerical problems. Similarly, real life presents complex situations, and if the newfound knowledge cannot be applied to navigate these complexities, it is not true understanding. The ego's primary objective is self-preservation, and it quickly provides the illusion of understanding to prevent the actual process, which is fatal to the ego. True learning requires humility and a willingness to undergo internal demolition.