Acharya Prashant explains that an individual can only perceive others to the extent of their own intelligence and depth. If a person exists only at a superficial level, they will inevitably judge others based on outward appearances, such as clothing or physical attributes. He emphasizes that society is a collection of individuals, and if these individuals are conditioned to be superficial, the entire society will value the apparent over the real substance. This lack of depth is described as a lack of intelligence, where people function like cameras that record data without understanding its meaning. The speaker critiques the current education system and upbringing for training people to focus solely on obvious results and physical quantities. He points out that when society prioritizes sensate valuesâsuch as marks, bank balances, or physical groomingâit ignores the underlying process and the true character of a person. This conditioning leads to a culture where success is sought by any means because the result is visible while the ethical process remains hidden. Ultimately, he argues that remaining at the surface level is a form of stupidity that prevents one from grasping what is truly substantial and real.
