Acharya Prashant explains that civilization and culture are not ends in themselves but are essential means to fulfill one's dharma, which is the movement toward liberation. He notes that humans transitioned from the jungle to cities to create an external environment of peace. In the jungle, constant physical disturbances like insects or the threat of wild animals made it nearly impossible to concentrate or meditate on deeper life questions. Therefore, civilization exists to provide the stability needed to engage in higher pursuits rather than merely to amplify the ego or increase consumption.
