Acharya Prashant addresses the common tendency to blame capitalism for societal issues like income inequality and greed. He argues that capitalism is not an external force victimizing humanity, but rather a system that originates from the human mind and its inherent tendencies. He explains that capitalism simply allows individuals the freedom to operate economically, and if the individual's internal center is corrupted or animalistic, they will prioritize profit regardless of social costs. He points out that alternative systems, such as government-controlled economies, suffer from the same corruption because the sourceāthe human mindāremains unchanged. He emphasizes that no economic, political, or social system can redeem humanity because all systems are products of the human ego. The ego creates these systems for its own sustenance and protection, and it resists any change that threatens its existence. Therefore, the debate between different ideologies like capitalism and socialism is secondary to the fundamental need for self-knowledge. Acharya Prashant asserts that unless the source of these systems is cleansed, any new system will only offer a temporary and false sense of hope. To find a genuine solution, Acharya Prashant suggests a shift toward inward change and a more rigorous educational system. He proposes that education should help individuals confront their primitive and animalistic nature. By recognizing that human tendencies are often gross and driven by basic instincts, individuals can develop the humility to look for solutions beyond their immediate thoughts and desires. He concludes that without addressing the internal source of human behavior, our sophisticated systems remain mere intellectual extensions of the laws of the jungle.
