Acharya Prashant explains that the definition of yoga depends on one's self-identification. If an individual identifies primarily as the body, yoga becomes a physical practice to address physical ailments. However, he points out that in the 21st century, mankind's primary suffering is not physical but mental. While medical science and Hatha yoga can address bodily issues, the majority of people suffer from a restless and unhealthy mind. Therefore, the yoga needed today is the yoga of the mind rather than just physical exercise. He clarifies that while yoga literally means union, one must investigate what the restless mind truly desires to unite with. The mind is constantly driven by desires, passions, and emotions that material consumption fails to satisfy. Acharya Prashant warns that the blind tendency to consume is leading to global catastrophes, such as species extinction and climate change. He argues that the brain is merely a physical organ, but the mind is in a state of separation from what it truly seeks. Real yoga, therefore, is an inquiry into who we are and what we truly want to achieve final peace.
