On YouTube
Making life is better than making babies || Acharya Prashant, with XLRI (2021)
Prakrati
1.2K views
1 year ago
Consumption
Population
Climate crisis
Development
Resources
Spiritual awakening
Environment
COVID-19
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that the Earth cannot sustain the current levels of human consumption, especially as the global population continues to rise toward unthinkable numbers. He points out that the modern definition of development is flawed because it is indexed solely on production and consumption. This mindset leads nations to aspire to high per capita consumption while simultaneously producing more children, creating a scenario of utter tragedy. He emphasizes that neither the rate of reproduction nor the greed for material goods is being addressed, leading to a future that is not bright. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Acharya Prashant argues that the fundamental underlying reason for such outbreaks is often ignored. He states that human population expansion forces people to clear jungles for land, bringing mankind into contact with new viruses. Furthermore, the competition for limited resources leads nations to engage in research for military purposes and defense. He warns that as resources like water become scarce, conflicts will escalate. He concludes that unless there is a spiritual awakening where people recognize that a good life does not consist of conspicuous consumption, humanity is hurtling toward a great disaster, as evidenced by the current climate crisis.