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There is enough scientific evidence that says if the average global temperature exceeds 1.5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, it could trigger massive feedback loops — self-sustaining and irreversible climatic phenomena. There is evidence that the average global temperature rise has already reached 1.7 degrees centigrade. This operation is a voice against an impending catastrophe — a catastrophe that the younger generations are going to face the brunt of.

Questioner: “Acharya Ji, my whole life, I treated sex as fun due to my early age experience. I would treat it as fun-just to relax my body. But now, at my mature age, I feel that it’s a responsibility to have a son or a daughter for humanity, to strengthen… read_more

Operation 2030

13 min

ऑपरेशन 2030

11 min

पृथ्वी को बचाने के लिए यूनाइटेड नेशंस की सीओपी ने यह शर्त रखी थी कि 2030 तक वैश्विक तापमान 1.5 डिग्री से अधिक नहीं बढ़ना चाहिए। हमने वह सीमा 2025 में ही लांघ दी है। यह आने वाले बहुत-बहुत बड़े विनाश का संकेत है। आदमी के इतिहास में इससे ख़तरनाक पल कभी नहीं आया। उस ख़तरे को चुनौती देने के लिए ही यह "ऑपरेशन 2030" है, जिसका उद्देश्य है कि आम आदमी में चेतना जगाई जाए — “देखो, तुम्हारा ग्रह विनाश की ओर कितनी तेज़ी से बढ़ रहा है। तुम अपने बच्चों के लिए एक ऐसा ग्रह छोड़कर जा रहे हो, जहाँ आफ़तें ही आफ़तें होंगी।”

कृष्णमूर्ति, फ्रायड, न्यूटन: इनमें कुछ समानता है क्या?

वैज्ञानिक का काम है — मलहम तैयार करना, तरह-तरह के रसायनों का इस्तेमाल करके। लेकिन विज्ञान अपने आप में ये नहीं कहेगा कि इस मलहम को अब ले जाओ और लोगों को लगाओ। विज्ञान कहेगा: “ये मलहम तैयार है।” अब इसके बाद कोई चाहिए — जिसको मुक्ति की या करुणा की क़द्र हो और वो उसको ले जाकर के लोगों को मलहम लगा दे।

Watching the movie, keep popping popcorn || Acharya Prashant, on Vedanta (2021)

External Challenges, Internal Solutions

Acharya Prashant (AP): Great things are happening on the screen, don't get so excited, it's just the screen. Irrespective of what happens on the screen, it's not real. That's how you have to look at things. Great silence on the screen. Is it silence? No, it is the silence of… read_more

The challenges we face today are unprecedented — climate change, religious conflict, inequality and injustice, overexposure to social media. The tsunami of cheap fulfillment of shallow desire will continue to rise. Without looking at our own internal traps and darknesses, we keep talking of external solutions to these problems. That is just wishful thinking. There is no way forward but the one inward.

The Journey to Purpose: Navigating Career and Calling

The traditional view of securing financial stability before pursuing one’s calling overlooks something very important: the evolving nature of the self. Therefore, it is risky to postpone our calling for too long. Many long-term plans go unfulfilled for this reason. The longer we delay our true calling, the more we risk losing our connection to it because the passion may have faded or circumstances may no longer support such pursuits.

हिन्दू धर्म में जातिवाद का ज़िम्मेवार कौन? || (2021)

38 min

का जाति:। जातिरिति च। न चर्मणो न रक्तस्य न मांसस्य न चास्थिनः। न जातिरात्मनो जातिर्व्यवहारप्रकल्पिता॥१०॥

शरीर (त्वचा, रक्त, हड्डी आदि) की कोई जाति नहीं होती। आत्मा की भी कोई जाति नहीं होती। जाति तो व्यवहार में प्रयुक्त कल्पना मात्र है।

~ निरालंब उपनिषद (श्लोक क्रमांक १०)

आचार्य प्रशांत: आज जो… read_more

Responding to Terror With Wisdom: The Bhagavad Gita’s Timeless Message

The Bhagavad Gita tells us how to respond when challenged with wars. Arjun was not merely instructed by Shri Krishna to fight, but to fight with clarity — free from fear or resentment. The Gita’s core teaching is: the right action must be based in wisdom — to understand the situation with clarity, rather than respond impulsively.

Kumbh in the Light of Vedanta: Truth Beyond Tradition

13 min

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

Immortality, and the meaning of life, is the theme of Kumbh. Seen with clarity, everything in the Kumbh narrative revolves around escaping death.

Another Kumbh festival is here. There are several ancient stories behind Kumbh. If the stories are taken merely as tales… read_more

Life Without Fear, and Relationships Without Lies

Cultures place too much value on conforming to relationship stereotypes. These dogmas and rigid opinions do not easily accept reality. And so, to please them, you become a habitual liar. But good relationships are founded on freedom; they are not based on obligations, and they are not afraid of reality. In good company, the other might frown, but less on what you did, and more on what you hid.

Self, Society, and the State: Vedanta’s Voice in Indian Democracy

Cleanliness in the 21st Century Can Have Only One Measure: Carbon

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

In India, age-old traditions weave through the fabric of daily life. And on the other hand, the ideals of democracy are deeply cherished. We often find ourselves caught in a paradox: Can a secular Constitution truly reflect the spiritual essence of a nation… read_more

The Climate Crisis Begins Within: Lessons from Kancha Gachibowli

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

The way we adhere to cleanliness standards, or fail to, is often a reflection of what we perceive as socially acceptable, not what we understand to be necessary.

Cleanliness has traditionally been tied to order and discipline, usually showing up in the most… read_more

Linguistic Harmony and Identity: Rethinking India’s Language Dynamics

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

The real change begins with personal responsibility, ecological awareness, and conscious, self-driven action. The climate crisis stems from unchecked consumption and inner emptiness.

There was a time, not so long ago, when I would confront and agitate people by asking them how they… read_more

Rejecting Illusions: The True Meaning of Shiv and Mahashivratri

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

A language is not merely a tool of communication; it carries within a worldview, a way of life, and an entire cultural and spiritual lineage. Its sounds are the history of a people and the thread that ties them to their roots. In… read_more

Redefining Representation: The Case for a Fairer Delimitation in India

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

With Mahashivratri around the corner, many of us find ourselves struggling to discover the actual and deeper meaning of the festival. We wonder: surely there has to be something beyond the rituals and performances. More importantly, it strikes us when we are contemplative:… read_more

Breaking through the cycle of exploitation in relationships

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of territorial constituencies in a state for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies to ensure fair representation. Since populations grow and shift over time, this process helps maintain balanced representation so that each MP or… read_more

Loneliness: The 21st century pandemic

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

Our society embodies a stark contrast between its proclaimed life-affirmative ideals and the underlying suffering that prevails. Relationships, especially marriage, are often transactional and materialistic arrangements rather than expressions of love and understanding.

While marriages in developed countries witness high divorce rates but… read_more

Reclaiming Authenticity in a World of Impressions

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

According to the recent Global State of Connections report, a quarter of the world’s population, around 1.92 billion, felt ‘lonely’ or ‘very lonely’. Research indicates that loneliness is closely linked to depression, anxiety, substance abuse , heart disease, and a shortened lifespan. Loneliness… read_more

जागो, नहीं तो ज़िंदगी पीट कर जगाएगी

Originally published in the The Sunday Guardian.

Right since our birth, we are trained to conduct ourselves according to others’ expectations. Everything about us seems to come from outside; every single identity is social. We write in prescribed ways, speak in acceptable tones, worship in traditional patterns, hold sanctioned beliefs… read_more

17 min

तामसिकता का अर्थ आलस्य होना आवश्यक नहीं, हालांकि सतह पर यह आलस्य जैसा लग सकता है। असली तमस स्वयं को यह भरोसा दिलाने में निहित है कि "मैं ठीक हूँ," "मैं स्वस्थ हूँ," "मुझे सब पता है," जबकि वास्तव में न तो मैं ठीक हूँ, न स्वस्थ, न ही स्वयं का जानकार। ऐसे व्यक्ति या तो स्वयं जागें, या फिर ज़िंदगी शायद उन्हें झंझोड़कर जगा पाए — जिसकी संभावना बहुत कम होती है। सबसे अच्छा विकल्प है स्वयं जाग जाना, क्योंकि जब जीवन सिखाता है, तो फिर वह किसी भी तरह की रियायत नहीं देता।

सच्चे प्रेम की पहचान

28 min

सच्चा प्रेमी ज़िंदगी में चुनौती बनकर आता है। वो आपको बेहतर होते देखना चाहेगा—बढ़ते, बदलते। उससे असुविधा होगी, मन में आएगा कि ये ज़िंदगी में आया ही क्यों? ये परेशान करता है, मेहनत करवाता है, चुनौती देता है। पर हम तो उन प्रेमियों को ढूंढ़ते हैं, जो बस सुख दें, झूठी तसल्ली दें, तारीफ़ें करें। तो परखना है कि प्रेम सच्चा है या नहीं—तो देखो, वो तुम्हें दे क्या रहा है? सुख या होश?

When Jesus Said: Hate Your Family and Your Life

28 min

Jesus is not a hater of persons. He is saying hate the way you have become. The Bible is not a document of hate, the central message is of Love. But when we love, we chain each other. When God loves us, He sets us free. So Jesus is saying to hate the way we relate to each other — because our love is not Godly. Love each other just as God the Father has loved you.

Spirituality Is Basic Honesty

The distinction between spiritual life and worldly life is a false distinction. Spirituality is not morality or a set of commandments. It is never instructive. You do not need great formulations or special practices. Spirituality is basic honesty. Just see and acknowledge what is going on, and then the right action follows. Nothing else is needed.

Your Role Models Are Destroying The Planet

10 min

Your role models are unworthy people. They're your role models only because you aspire to consume as much as them. Notice how they either display their ability to consume or they present themselves as stuff to be consumed. So, when consumption is the ideal that we have been taught, the result is catastrophic like climate change. So, don’t just be driven to anything that appears attractive; choose your role models very carefully.

America Pollutes, India Suffers

The United States has contributed approximately 25% of cumulative global greenhouse gas emissions since 1850, despite comprising only about 4% of the world's population. This exemplifies climate injustice, where wealthier nations emit the majority of carbon emissions, while poorer countries endure the most severe impacts.

जैन धर्म में अनेकांतवाद सिद्धांत क्या है?

3 min

जैन धर्म का अनेकांतवाद या स्यादवाद, अहिंसा की बुनियाद है। मैं दूसरे के विपरीत तभी खड़ा होऊंगा जब मुझे अपनी हस्ती में दृढ़ विश्वास होगा — और यही बड़ा विश्वास ही हिंसा है। अनेकांतवाद का अर्थ है: कुछ भी पूरी तरह पक्का या निश्चित नहीं। जब कुछ निश्चित नहीं, तो दूसरे को गलत कैसे ठहराएं? और जब दूसरे को गलत नहीं ठहरा सकते, तो उनके प्रति हिंसक कैसे हो सकते हैं? अनेकांतवाद अहंकार की जड़ पर चोट करता है। दूसरे के प्रति तुम हिंसक तभी हो सकते हो, जब कहोगे — मैं सही, दूसरा गलत।

रमज़ान में ज़कात का क्या महत्त्व है?

20 min

ज़कात माने दान, और दान वह नहीं जिसमें तुमने कुछ ऐसा छोड़ा जो तुम्हारे पास है। दान की महत्ता इसलिए है क्योंकि दान में तुम स्वयं को ही छोड़ देते हो। अहंकार तो व्यापारी होता है—वह कुछ देता भी है तो उसमें मुनाफ़ा देखकर देता है। सबसे निम्न कोटि का दान वह है जिसमें तुम देते हो और अपेक्षा करते हो कि बदले में कुछ मिले। उससे ऊपर वह दान है जिसमें यह उम्मीद नहीं बाँध रहे कि कुछ मिलेगा। ज़कात एक विधि है, जिससे ज़िंदगी में कुछ ऐसा करो जिसमें तुम्हें मुनाफ़ा नहीं चाहिए।

Is Sartre’s Existentialism Contradicting Gita?

They don't contradict each other. Existentialists like Sartre argue that humans cannot suppress consciousness and are 'condemned to be free.' We are born without a predetermined purpose—existence precedes essence. You exist first and must then discover your essence. In the spirit of 'Neti Neti' (neither this nor that), no external force can define your essence; it is your freedom to consciously determine what life is for.

The SECRET About Life, Art, and Beauty That Changes Everything

11 min

Have you seen an ant hill? Have you seen an ant hill? Now, an ant hill—for an ant—is Taj Mahal. And what is your Taj Mahal for an ant? Nothing. A heap of white rubbish. Think of what pigeons and crows do to the Eiffel Tower, for example. But we look at it, as I said, from the human ego point of view—an anthropomorphic view. We say, "Wow!" We don't appreciate an ant hill. Now, tell me, why don't you appreciate an ant hill? An ant would appreciate an ant hill; we don't appreciate it.

Are We Revering the Right Voices? A Look at True Wisdom

14 min

That's the wrong relationship that the world is choosing to have with an unwise man. If you are to respect, you have to respect someone who is wise and who can bring his wisdom to your use. Instead, if you choose to have a relationship of respect with someone who is himself unwise, obviously, he can be of no use to you. So again, it's a failure of relationship—something is misplaced. Respect is something that has to be placed at the right point.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 9

53 min

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्ग: समाचर ||3. 9||

अन्वय: यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र (यज्ञ के लिए किए कर्म के अलावा अन्य कर्म में) लोकोऽयं (लगा हुआ) कर्मबन्धनः (कर्मों के बन्धन में फँसता है) कौन्तेय (हे अर्जुन) मुक्तसङ्गः (आसक्ति छोड़कर) तत्-अर्थ (यज्ञ के लिए) कर्म (कर्म) समाचर (करो)

काव्यात्मक अर्थ: बाँधते … read_more

भगवान निर्दयी से क्यों लगते हैं?

24 min

भगवान किसी और को सूली पर कहाँ चढ़ा रहे हैं? वो ही हैं, अपने आप को ही सूली दे रहे हैं। खुद ही जाते हैं सिपाही बनकर; खुद ही पकड़ लाते हैं किसी संत को, फिर खुद ही न्यायलय में न्यायाधीश बन बैठते हैं, खुद को ही झूठी सज़ा सुना देते हैं, फिर खुद ही जल्लाद हो जाते हैं; फिर खुद ही सूली हो जाते हैं, फिर खुद को ही सूली पर चढ़ा देते हैं। और किसको मार रहे हैं वो? दया इत्यादि तो दूसरों पर की जाती है। जहाँ द्वैत ही नहीं, वहाँ दया कैसी। किस पर दया करनी है?

Krishna's Grace vs. Arjuna's Willingness—Which Matters More?

The question should be which one is relevant to you? What will you do by enquiring about Shri Krishna’s grace? That’s Shri Krishna’s prerogative, right? Shri Krishna will take care of his grace if he has to offer grace. Whatever he has to do, we do not know what grace is. We do not know who Shri Krishna is. How does it concern us to go into matters of his grace? What is it that’s in your control? Your own preparation, your own willingness. So, you take care of that.

How to Abide in The Shiva Truth? On Ribhu Gita

11 min

So 'know', don’t try to know about Shiva. Shiva is not furniture. Shiva is not a tree. Shiva is not a cloud, not even the sky. How will you know Shiva? Do you know of anything that has no shape, no form, and is eternal? How will you know Shiva? But know, do know. What can you know? This world and yourself. Know that. That knowing is Shiva-ness. Shivatva.

How Is The Bhagavad Gita Relevant Today?

44 min

The Gita is useful because its setting is extremely relatable. Just like us, Arjuna does not know himself—he's a victim of multiple identities and all kinds of conditioning. Therefore, the Gita is about letting Arjuna know who he is, and this illumination enables him to do what he must. So, first of all, see that you are Arjuna. Then, step by step, verse by verse, there will be some resolution.

Why Words Fail to Capture Life’s Truth?

And you can extend this observation to all the things in the world in the sense of our relationship with them. If we are highlighting something in this world, chances are we are going to destroy and distort it. We do not highlight things because they are virtuous or truthful. The ego does not want virtue. The ego has nothing for the truth. For the ego, its own security and preservation come first.

God, Allah, Ram: One Truth, Many Names

23 min

Some say 'God', others say 'Allah', and some say 'Ram'; all three refer to the same entity. If a name or sound reminds you of the nameless one, it's wonderful. The problem arises with self-appointed meanings. The purpose of religion is to convey the truth, not obstruct it. You have a variety of flutes, but there is one music. Religion is that music.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 11

25 min

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।।

~ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, अध्याय 3, श्लोक 11

अर्थ: यज्ञ से देवताओं को आगे बढ़ाओ, तो वो दैवत्य तुम्हारी उन्नति करेंगे। इस तरह परस्पर (आपस में) उन्नति करते हुए तुम परम श्रेय प्राप्त करते हो।

काव्यात्मक अर्थ: *यज्ञ से देवत्व बढ़े देवत्व से… read_more

How Our Fear of Death Reflects Our Attachment to Life’s Pleasures

Death scares the ego because there was something that the ego wanted from its existence that has not yet been achieved. The technical problem there is that what the ego wants from its existence can only be attained from its non-existence. Therefore, the only way to avoid death is by dying before death.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 10

70 min

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः । अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेषः योऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥ १० ॥

अर्थ: सृष्टि के आरंभ में ही ब्रह्मा ने कहा था कि यज्ञ के द्वारा ही वृद्धि को प्राप्त करोगे। यह यज्ञ ही तुम लोगों को अभीष्ट फल देगा और कामधेनुतुल्य सर्वाभीष्टप्रद होगा।

काव्यात्मक अर्थ:

सगुण हो बंधन चुना … read_more

ऐसे देखो अपनी हस्ती का सच

18 min

कह रहे हैं कि ये तुमने जो तमाम तरह की कहानियाँ गढ़ ली हैं, ये कहानियाँ तुम्हारे अंजन का ही विस्तार हैं, निरंजन की कोई कथा नहीं हो सकती। सारी समस्या तब होती है जब धर्म में कथाएँ घुस जाती हैं। जितनी तुमने किस्से बाज़ियाँ और कहानियाँ ये खड़ी की हैं, इन्होंने ही तुम्हारे धर्म को चौपट कर दिया है। श्रीराम को निरंजन ही रहने दो, श्रीकृष्ण को भी निरंजन ही रहने दो। जैसे ही तुमने गोपी संग गोविंद बना दिया, वैसे ही मामला अंजन का हो गया। गोविंद को गोविंद रहने दो, गोपियाँ मत लेकर के आओ।

Meditation: A Simple Honesty Beyond Methods and Routines