Acharya Prashant explains that slavery is not merely following the commands of others but is more deeply rooted in following oneself. He argues that what we call 'oneself' is usually an aggregate of internalized influences from society, education, and family. These influences are so pervasive that they are mistaken for individuality. This internalized slavery is harder to treat because the individual actively defends these borrowed opinions and identities as their own. While gross slavery at gunpoint is easily recognized and resisted, subtle conditioning through ideologies and religions gains entry into the mind under the guise of well-being, leading to active cooperation from the enslaved person.