Acharya Prashant explains that the Atman cannot be attained through intellectual study, intelligence, or extensive hearing of the Vedas. It is gained only by the one who chooses it alone, at which point the Atman reveals its true nature. He clarifies that human choices are typically not for the thing itself but for a promise or a hope of something else. We use objects and people as mediums to reach a future goal, meaning we never choose anything for its own sake. To choose the Atman alone is to come to the end of choosing, which signifies the end of time and the annihilation of the ego. The ego, however, is afraid of its own end; it desires an end to its suffering but lacks the courage to disappear, so it uses hope as a deception to continue its existence. The speaker emphasizes that all activities and endeavors are often just escapes from the center. The Upanishads suggest that the Atman is gained by a direct choice without the need for mediums, middlemen, or future promises. While the ego clamors for freedom, it usually chooses different types of bondages that it hopes will lead to freedom. Acharya Prashant points out that since the ego is the one making the choices, any 'different' choice it makes will still be rooted in the same patterns. Therefore, he does not advise to stop choosing or to choose differently, but rather to remain aware that all such choices are ultimately useless and based on false promises. He concludes by noting that the market thrives on selling hope, and true realization comes from understanding that no external object or choice can provide the ultimate joy it promises.