Acharya Prashant explains that human beings are composed of two distinct aspects: the true self or Atman, which is perfect and blemishless, and the body-mind complex or Prakriti, which we share with animals. While the Atman represents our potentiality, our current reality is almost entirely governed by Prakriti. This animalistic nature is driven by the ego, which is a bundle of imperfections that desperately wants to call itself perfect to avoid the hard work of spiritual ascension. Because the ego is governed by Tamas, or laziness, it finds it easier to pretend it has already reached the destination of perfection rather than admitting its distance from it.