Acharya Prashant discusses the fundamental human craving for fulfillment and peace, noting that both the West and the East have failed to achieve it through their respective methods. He explains that the West pursues materialism and physical goods as a proxy for happiness, while the East often pursues formal religion and gods for the same purpose. He characterizes the religiosity commonly practiced in India as a form of 'subtle materialism' where people trade with gods to obtain happiness, much like the West trades in goods. He asserts that neither gross materialism nor organized belief systems lead to the truth or genuine contentment. Acharya Prashant further clarifies that the metrics used to measure happiness in global surveys are often based on Western materialistic standards, which do not reflect true spiritual fulfillment. He emphasizes that the wisdom of the ancient sages and scriptures, such as the Upanishads and the teachings of Saint Kabir, is where the 'real thing' resides. However, he laments that the vast majority of people in India today are disconnected from this spiritual base, instead favoring a religion devoid of wisdom that can lead to strife and self-delusion. He concludes that traveling to India for religious tourism is ineffective because the land itself is no longer uniquely spiritual; true liberation comes from wisdom rather than customary practices or physical postures like Hatha Yoga.
