A questioner asks Acharya Prashant about a verse from the Vivek Chudamani which states, "The Self can only be known by the Self," and questions the purpose of scriptures and practices if the Self cannot be known through them. Acharya Prashant responds that the meaning of this verse is to stop talking about the Self. He explains that since you are not the Self, you cannot know it; only the Self can know the Self. Therefore, one should leave the Self alone and instead focus on knowing Maya (the world of illusion). To illustrate his point, Acharya Prashant uses an analogy of a multi-story building. A person on a particular floor can only know what is on that same floor; they cannot know what is happening on a higher floor. The Self is on a different, higher level, which is inaccessible. Furthermore, the Self is described as unattached ('asanga'), meaning no one is ever on its level. Therefore, it is futile to talk about it. Instead, one should focus on what is on their own level, because that is what is preventing them from ascending. Acharya Prashant clarifies that the obstacles preventing this ascent are one's immediate environment, life, home, and relationships. He quotes Kabir Saheb, who lists these obstacles as mother, father, son, relatives, laziness, friends, and hesitation. These are the forces that hold a person back when they try to move towards the truth. Spirituality is not about analyzing the profound essence of the Self ('Atma-tattva'). While it is called 'Brahmavidya' (knowledge of Brahman), the wise have repeatedly emphasized that one must know Maya, as Brahman is unknowable. You are distant from your true nature ('Brahma-swabhav') because you do not know Maya. The Self is not attained through discourses or listening, but only by cutting through Maya. The one who understands Maya is saved from it. He concludes by stating that Maya is here and now, in one's immediate life, and it must be known in the present moment, not just theoretically. He says that in this world, the thing worth loving even more than the Self is Maya, because the real encounter and struggle are with Maya. It is the immediate reality one must grapple with. The Self is the end, but the journey is with Maya.