Acharya Prashant explains that controlling the ego is impossible without first understanding its nature and operation. Just as one cannot control a machine or an epidemic without knowing its mechanics or cause, one cannot manage the ego without realizing what it truly is. He defines the ego as a self-concept derived entirely from external sources. It is the collection of opinions, beliefs, and images of oneself that are internalized from the outside world rather than discovered through firsthand understanding. When an individual accepts someone else's statement—whether a compliment or an insult—and identifies with it, the ego is formed and begins to dominate their life. The speaker emphasizes that external influences have no power until an individual internalizes them through identification. This identification makes one a slave to the opinions of others, leading to a cycle of dependency where one's happiness or depression is dictated by external validation. Acharya Prashant describes the ego as a false sense of self that results in an artificial, joyless, and plastic existence. To control the ego, one must consciously recognize when they are becoming dependent on external inputs. By seeing the external as external and refusing to identify with it, the influence of the ego is neutralized, leading to freedom from its dominance.