Kuntal Joisher recounts his experience of climbing Mount Everest twice. During his first ascent in 2016, he was fully vegan in his diet but had to compromise on his ethics by wearing a jacket made from duck feathers. This jacket was essential for survival in the extreme conditions of -50┬░C and high-speed winds. For years, he had tried to get companies to make an animal-free jacket, but they refused, citing impossibility, financial non-viability, or lack of demand. He eventually decided to climb with the non-vegan jacket to at least prove that a vegan could summit Everest, hoping to promote the cause. Despite his achievement, Kuntal felt a deep ethical conflict for the next three years. His conscience troubled him because he had compromised his core value of not harming animals for his personal dream. He couldn't sleep well and felt uneasy whenever he was introduced as the "first vegan to climb Everest." This led him to collaborate with an Italian company to create the world's first completely animal-free mountaineering suit. In 2019, he climbed Everest again, this time as a "complete vegan," using no animal products in his food or gear. However, he still struggles to reconcile his 2016 decision to prioritize his dream over an animal's life. Acharya Prashant addresses this dilemma by stating that a person should be judged by the challenges they undertake, not just their achievements. He explains that everyone is born into a culture and society rife with violence and ignorance. Therefore, starting from such a disadvantaged position, Kuntal's journey is commendable. He points out that we are all products of our environment, which includes a violent culture, society, and market. Acharya Prashant expands on the theme of violence, connecting the seemingly innocent act of eating ice cream to the brutal reality of the dairy industry. He argues that true love is universal and cannot coexist with violence towards any being. He refutes the common argument that "plants have feelings too" by explaining the biological differences and noting that meat production consumes far more plant life than a plant-based diet. He also highlights the exploitation of animals like yaks in mountaineering. He concludes that the only way forward is through internal awakening, as systems and governments are often short-sighted. An awakened populace will naturally create a better, more compassionate world.
