Acharya Prashant explains that ego is the false identity one creates for oneself, while Maya is the delusion of believing in that which one is not. The ego's most fundamental and unshakable belief is the conviction in its own existence, regardless of whether it perceives itself as good, bad, high, or low. This sense of 'I am' is the root of all complications. He clarifies that the problem is not the physical existence of the body, but the ego's identification with it. This identification is not a genuine mistake but a calculated act of self-deception driven by the desire for pleasure. We adopt false identities to enjoy certain benefits, but we then become trapped in those identities when the inevitable suffering follows.