Acharya Prashant explains that true devotion is not a choice made by the ego, nor is it based on logical reasons or expected benefits. When a seeker claims that devotion is the best path because it brings love and grace, they are still operating from the ego, which evaluates and selects what it likes. The ego is defined by its preferences and its tendency to perform actions for future gains. In contrast, true devotion is a state of helplessness and an inevitability, much like true love, where the individual no longer has the right or power to say 'yes' or 'no'. It is not a calculated decision but a surrender that occurs when one realizes that all other efforts have led to disappointment. He further clarifies that devotion is not a feeling or a philosophical theory. Concepts such as 'I am not the doer, God within me is doing' are often just mental theories that can actually strengthen the ego by allowing it to avoid responsibility for its actions. A true devotee does not claim that God is within them; instead, they feel a deep sense of separation and longing, acknowledging their own mistakes and helplessness. Devotion is the realization of one's own inadequacy and the sincere plea for divine guidance, often expressed through tears and a direct perception of one's state, rather than through temporary feelings of calmness or gratitude.
