Acharya Prashant addresses the common spiritual misconception that the ego is merely a concept and therefore requires no discipline or transcendence. He argues that while the ego may be a fiction from the absolute standpoint, it is a factual reality for the individual who lives and suffers as an ego. He emphasizes that spirituality is not about declaring abstract truths but about providing practical help and compassion to the suffering self. Using the analogy of a frog and an elephant, he explains that a frog cannot honestly speak the language of an elephant; similarly, an individual cannot claim to be the absolute while living a life of petty desires and suffering. He critiques the 'no-self' movement, noting that the ego often turns the concept of 'nothingness' into just another object of attachment, which can be even more dangerous than worldly attachments. Acharya Prashant asserts that the ego cannot be simply emptied or killed because it is inherently a 'thirsty being' that requires fulfillment. True spirituality, therefore, involves giving the ego higher, more affirmative objects of focus that eventually lead it toward silence and beyondness. He concludes that acknowledging the reality of suffering is the necessary starting point for any authentic spiritual process, as help is ultimately more significant than the mere statement of truth.