Acharya Prashant explains that the ego is not something created in the past but is being continuously created in the present moment. He asserts that the very act of asking a question about the ego is the ego itself, as it arises from a belief in ignorance and a perceived need for knowledge. In a state of silence and intimacy, the moment is already complete; however, the ego feels that the self is not fully revealed and requires further exploration or support. Therefore, the ego is born the moment a question springs up in the mind and subsides when that question disappears. Regarding the nature of consciousness and thought, Acharya Prashant describes consciousness as a kite that mistakenly believes it is flying freely. He explains that thoughts are not truly generated consciously by the individual but are controlled by deeper latent tendencies and patterns within the mind. While a person may feel they are making a choice, they do not choose the impulse that leads to that choice. By understanding the source of action, one discovers that they are not the doer, thereby releasing the unnecessary burden of responsibility for actions that are driven by these deeper, predetermined tendencies.
