Acharya Prashant explains that the fear of death is not actually about the cessation of the body, but rather the anticipation of pain before death. He clarifies that death itself is not necessarily painful, citing examples like the sudden passing of cricketer Phillip Hughes to show that life can often be more painful than death. The mind creates imaginary fears of a painful death to maintain a constant state of insecurity. This insecurity serves the ego, as a light and free mind has no room for ego. Consequently, the mind keeps itself burdened with the apprehension of future calamities to avoid liberation.