Acharya Prashant explains that Maya is not something that hides the Truth, but rather it is the state of perceiving something other than the Truth as real. He defines Maya as that which does not exist but appears to be real to one who is unconscious or deluded. This delusion arises from the observer's own fears, hopes, and internal insistence on remaining in a fog of ignorance. He describes Maya as the stubbornness of the mind to not see the Truth and its insistence on dreaming. This creates a vicious cycle where dreams are mistaken for reality because they serve as a substitute for the Truth that one has avoided. As one builds a life on the foundation of these dreams, the Truth becomes increasingly terrifying because its touch would shatter the entire structure of lies.