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Know your root problem (and it's not Capitalism) || Acharya Prashant, with IIT Delhi (2022)
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3 years ago
Human Mind
Capitalism
Ego
Self-knowledge
Systems
Corruption
Right Action
Shri Krishna
Description

Acharya Prashant begins by referencing the context of the Bhagavad Gita, explaining that once the war is imminent, the time for peace talks is over. He states that Shri Krishna himself tried his utmost to avert the war, even acting as a messenger to Duryodhana's court. However, once on the battlefield, the right action is no longer to be a peacenik or a dove, but to be an eagle and fight. The right action before a war is to prevent it, but on the battlefield, one must fight. In response to a question about whether capitalism is the root of modern problems like income inequality and greed, Acharya Prashant refutes the idea that human beings are inherently good and are victimized by an external, alien system. He argues that this perspective is convenient as it allows people to place blame externally and claim innocence. He asserts that all systems, whether economic, social, or political, are products of the human mind and its tendencies. Capitalism, which allows private individuals to operate economically as they please, is not the inherent problem. He explains that the issue lies not with the system itself, but with the human mind that operates it. If the human mind is corrupt and animalistic, any system it creates will be corrupt. Changing the system, for instance, by giving ownership to the government instead of private entities, will not solve the problem if the people within the government are also corrupt. He uses the example of the former USSR to illustrate how corruption can thrive even in a non-capitalist system, leading to its collapse. All systems are created by humans and are a reflection of the human condition. Acharya Prashant concludes that the fundamental issue is the human ego. The game of life is played for the sustenance, furtherance, and protection of the ego, and the ego will not entertain a system that threatens its own existence. The debate is not about capitalism versus socialism or any other philosophy. The real solution lies in self-knowledge and an inward change. When we understand who we are, we develop humility and can look for solutions beyond our animalistic tendencies. Without this inner transformation, any new system is a false start because it originates from the same corrupt source—the unexamined human mind.