A questioner states that he started listening to Acharya Prashant's videos after a breakup. The pain of the breakup allowed him to listen attentively for hours. He is now happy but regrets the past year spent in sorrow, believing he wouldn't have suffered if he had listened to the speaker earlier. He asks why people only learn through suffering and do not accept the truth directly. Acharya Prashant explains that if one could see the truth directly, the game of falsehood would end immediately. The whole drama of life continues because we do not see the truth as it is. Truth is absolute and has no equal or opponent. If truth and falsehood were to compete fairly, falsehood would not stand a chance. The competition seems balanced only because we are biased. We have created various illusions and arguments against the truth and in favor of falsehood. This happens because our fundamental instinct is to protect ourselves, and what we consider 'ourselves' is inherently flawed and false. To protect this false self, we make incorrect efforts. We are fundamentally false, and thus, we are naturally attracted to falsehood, making it necessary for us to oppose the truth. Truth itself does not lose; rather, for us, truth appears to lose. Truth is absolute and complete. The issue is that we are fundamentally flawed and have a basic hesitation to support what is right. We often believe we are good people corrupted by society or experiences, but this is a false notion. We are born with defects. The idea that a child is innocent is a misconception; a child is born with flaws. This is why we need to be made aware of our real condition, to know that we are in deep trouble and afflicted with diseases. We are naturally inclined towards falsehood because it is easy and attractive, whereas truth requires effort and labor. The first thought, the first emotion, the first inclination is always wrong and must be viewed with caution. The things that seem unquestionably right to us are the most dangerous. The speaker advises the questioner that his current state of 'being happy' is also a potential danger. Instead of asking about past mistakes, he should be concerned about his present ones.
