Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which permits the killing of animals for religious purposes. He highlights the alarming rise in meat consumption in India, noting that while the population has tripled since 1960, meat production has increased eightfold. He points out that India is a leading exporter of buffalo and goat meat, and over 70% of Indians consume meat at some point. He criticizes the normalization of animal slaughter through corporate advertising and the loss of traditional values like non-violence and compassion. He emphasizes that the meat and dairy industries are primary drivers of climate change, deforestation, and species extinction. Regarding the practice of sacrifice during festivals like Bakrid, Acharya Prashant asserts that compassion is the core of religion and killing animals in the name of God is fundamentally wrong. He explains the spiritual symbolism behind the story of Prophet Ibrahim, stating that the 'animal' to be sacrificed is actually the animalistic tendencies within human consciousness, such as attachment, greed, and territoriality. He argues that killing an external animal and consuming its meat only strengthens the internal animal, which contradicts the purpose of spirituality. He concludes by urging people to stop inflicting cruelty on innocent animals and to seek the true meaning of religion through higher consciousness and compassion.
