Acharya Prashant highlights the stark contrast between scientific rigor and the prevalence of superstition, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He notes that while scientists worked tirelessly and admitted their limitations, many people turned to unscientific remedies like 'powders' or 'churnas.' He argues that those who rely on such superstitions often suffer the most, as seen in the high mortality rates among unscientific and impoverished groups. He describes a vicious cycle where poverty, lack of education, and superstition reinforce each other, leading to tragic events like stampedes at religious gatherings where the poor and uneducated are the primary victims. He further explains that society has collectively buried the memory of the pandemic to avoid acknowledging that many deaths were caused by human ignorance and irresponsibility. Unlike some developed nations that revamped their medical systems, countries like India and Pakistan have largely wiped the tragedy from their collective memory. Acharya Prashant defines 'evil' as the deliberate refusal to acknowledge facts even when they are presented clearly. He suggests that when individuals or societies reach a point where they refuse to see the truth despite repeated efforts to awaken them, they may eventually be abandoned by nature or spiritual efforts, much like a body stops trying to heal a terminally damaged tissue. Addressing the relationship between science and spirituality, Acharya Prashant explains that while science explores the external world (the object), spirituality focuses on the observer (the subject). He asserts that it is easier for one who knows the self to understand the world than for a scientist to understand the self through external study. He points out that even great scientists like Einstein held personal prejudices or unscientific beliefs because scientific expertise does not guarantee spiritual enlightenment. However, a truly enlightened person (a Buddha) will never speak anything unscientific. He concludes that while a scientist may remain trapped in 'Maya' or biases, a true Knower possesses a vision that is inherently scientific and free from prejudice.
