Acharya Prashant distinguishes between the cunning desire to hide one's internal reactions for personal gain and the spiritual goal of changing the egoistic center from which these reactions arise. He explains that most people function like machines with buttons that others can press to trigger predictable emotional responses, such as anger or joy. This predictability makes individuals slaves to external circumstances and the manipulations of others, who can control their moods through flattery, gifts, or criticism. He notes that while the ego carries great pride, it remains fundamentally enslaved to these external triggers. He further explains that immediate reaction is a property of inert matter, governed by the laws of physics and chemistry, where every action has an equal and opposite reaction. While it is natural for chemicals or physical objects to react, it is unbecoming of human consciousness to do so. He asserts that consciousness is not matter, and therefore, the laws of material reaction should not apply to it. When an impulse to react arises due to physical or hormonal triggers in the brain and body, one must realize that they are the consciousness, not the material body. By identifying as consciousness rather than matter, one can choose not to support or participate in these automatic reactions.