Acharya Prashant explains that the essence of being human is consciousness, and life without consciousness is not worth living. He argues that while the objects or 'stuff' of consciousness may change, the fact of consciousness remains the constant value. This principle extends to animals, who share the same fundamental cravings, such as the will to survive and the experience of suffering. He emphasizes that at our core, the tendencies of humans and animals are identical, and therefore, any conscious entity deserves respect and love. Hurting another conscious being is a violation of the self because consciousness is a shared, impersonal reality rather than a localized, individual possession.