Acharya Prashant explains that suffering (dukh) arises when the ego (aham) is influenced and conditioned by the world. This happens when one forgets their true self and identifies with worldly things. This state of being influenced is the inherent suffering of an individual's life, a penalty for being born. We dislike this state because our inherent nature (swabhav) is liberation (mukti), and we have a deep love (prem) for this liberation. Therefore, the experience of suffering is an indicator of our love for joy and freedom. If there were no love, there would be no suffering. Love precedes suffering. He illustrates two paths to deal with this suffering: the path of knowledge (gyan) and the path of devotion (bhakti). Using an analogy of a new student being bullied by seniors, he describes the individual being as constantly bullied by the world, society, and bodily tendencies. The path of knowledge is a direct confrontation, a struggle or war against these forces. The knower (gyani), driven by curiosity (jigyasa), questions and seeks to unmask these forces, asking, "Who are you?" This is a path of inquiry and struggle. The path of the knower is difficult, like a small child fighting numerous masked seniors in a fog. The masks and fog represent the veiling (aavaran) and projecting (vikshep) powers of illusion. Driven by an immense love for truth, the knower persists. By unmasking even one element, he discovers there is nothing behind it—it's all 'Anatma' (no-self). This realization collapses the entire illusion. The path of knowledge is the shortest and most direct, but it requires the courage to annihilate the self, a metaphorical "suicide bombing" where destroying the "I" destroys the world of illusion. This path, therefore, requires immense love. In contrast, the path of devotion is about surrender. The devotee acknowledges their attachments, such as the love for a son, but offers that love to something they hold even dearer—the Supreme. Instead of fighting the attachment, they surrender it. Historically, devotion is seen as the path of love, but Acharya Prashant suggests that the path of knowledge requires an even greater love, a love so profound that one is willing to sacrifice their own self for it.