Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding the dilemma of technological progress, specifically the idea that modern developments like mobile phones and automobiles might be harmful compared to the past. He challenges the questioner's stance by pointing out that viewing technology before one's birth as acceptable and technology after as evil is a form of body-centric egoism. He highlights that historical facts, such as low life expectancy and the lack of antibiotics in previous centuries, do not support the romanticized view that people were better taken care of before modern medical and technological advances. He explains that the real issue facing the current generation is not the existence of technology itself, but the unprecedented combination of overpopulation and excessive consumption. The Earth is objectively overcrowded and overstretched in terms of resources. This crisis is driven by economic growth providing more money while spiritual degradation increases the lust for consumption. Acharya Prashant argues that the negative side effects of technology stem from a lack of spiritual growth rather than the growth of technology. He asserts that human curiosity and scientific exploration are natural and cannot be stopped. Ultimately, the solution lies in addressing the consumer—the ego—rather than trying to arrest technological development. Since science and technology will continue to advance, the critical question is whether the consumer is wise and sane enough to handle such power. He emphasizes that while the supply side of the market cannot be easily halted, the demand side can be addressed by enlightening the consumer. By awakening wisdom in the common person and educating the masses, humanity can manage the impact of technology and prevent the annihilation caused by blind consumption.
