Acharya Prashant explains that most people approach God only when they are in need or afraid, but this devotion is selective and inconsistent. He points out that fear is relative and often changes form, manifesting as confidence, happiness, or pleasure, which are forms of central ignorance that people find acceptable. These acceptable forms of ignorance are more dangerous because they prevent introspection and reinforce self-belief, whereas suffering often prompts a course correction. He observes that people do not go to the temple when something is actually harmful, but only when they perceive something as harmful based on their own inaccurate assessments. Consequently, people may celebrate when real danger is present or pray to be saved from what is actually a blessing. Acharya Prashant suggests that it would be better if individuals could see that they are continuously in danger, as this realization would lead to continuous and permanent devotion. He highlights the irony of the human situation: liberation is sought only in moments of distress, yet those moments are often misidentified, and there is a complete lack of acknowledgment regarding the real internal suffering and danger. Because the true nature of suffering is not recognized, people do not seek genuine freedom from it. True devotion, therefore, requires a constant awareness of one's actual state rather than a selective response to perceived problems.
