Acharya Prashant explains that the ego can never attain liberation because the ego itself is the essence of bondage. When an individual claims to be liberated or enlightened, it is merely the ego attempting to secure its own immortality by adopting a spiritual label. Liberation is not an object or a thought that the ego can possess; rather, it is the state that exists when the ego is absent. Just as the presence of truth necessitates the disappearance of falsehood, true liberation requires the dissolution of the "I". The speaker asserts that claiming to have found truth or love while remaining in one's current state is fundamentally absurd. If liberation has been attained, the bondage must have disappeared. However, the ego often claims liberation without addressing its inherent bondages. By declaring itself free, the ego makes its bondage permanent and uncuttable. Therefore, it is essential to remain grounded and honestly acknowledge one's actual state of being in bondage rather than making false spiritual claims. True humility is redefined not as a moral virtue or the act of bowing, but as the honest acknowledgment of one's current state without any justification or rationalization. Acknowledging one's ignorance or fallen state makes it easier to renounce the ego. When the ego is labeled as liberated, it becomes reinforced. This honest acknowledgment triggers a rebellion from one's true nature, which is the only force capable of bringing about real change. Knowledge acts as a fire that melts the chains of bondage only when those chains are clearly recognized. Spirituality is described not as a search for truth, but as a diligent search for lies, illusions, and the ego within oneself. Since truth is never lost, it does not need to be found; instead, the falsehoods obscuring it must be uncovered. Acharya Prashant warns against false claims of enlightenment, noting that true liberation is a state where no one remains to declare themselves free. It is a process of dissolving the ego rather than gratifying it. He encourages looking at oneself with a strict, honest eye to uncover hidden bondages.
