Acharya Prashant explains that the teachings of the world's Buddhas are not without reason. He contrasts the modern wave of intellect, productionism, and consumerism with the timeless stream of mystics and saints who respond to the call of the heart. He traces a historical progression of consciousness, noting that the declaration of the rights of man came just 300 years ago, followed by the rights of slaves, and in the last century, the rights of women. He sees that in the current century, a clear declaration of a new relationship between man and the environment will emerge, catalyzed by the threat of climate change. This will manifest superficially as an acceptance of the right of animals to live. This change, he states, must happen for both mankind's dignity and its survival. Mankind cannot survive, even in a physical way, if it does not know how to relate with the world outside of its own body. This shift will be driven by two forces. Those who understand will live harmoniously out of love. Those who do not understand will be compelled to live harmoniously out of their own self-interest, as their physical survival will be threatened. He explains that to be a man is to have God in the heart and the soil in the body, and one must be comfortable with the soil, which contains all the animals and jungles. If you are not comfortable with them, you will never be comfortable with yourself. Acharya Prashant further elaborates that when you look inside, you will find a little rabbit, an elephant, a whale, and all the birds there. It then becomes difficult to have them for breakfast, as it would be like consuming your own liver. He connects this to the principle of suffering, stating that all suffering is totally needless and foolish. The moment you realize it is not necessary for you to suffer, you also stop living in a way that makes others suffer. The more you suffer, the more you want to make others suffer. Therefore, withdrawing support from your own suffering is the key to not being an agent of suffering for others.
