Acharya Prashant critiques the popular spiritual concept of 'living in the present,' labeling it as a product of industrial economy and consumerist culture designed to increase productivity and consumption. He argues that for most people, their current reality or 'present' consists of mediocre jobs, poor habits, or meaningless activities. Encouraging someone to 'immerse' themselves in such a present is like telling a person stuck in quicksand to sink deeper. He warns that this philosophy often promotes hedonism, where individuals ignore the future consequences of their actions, such as financial debt or health issues, under the guise of being in the moment.
