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Only man is an end in himself || Acharya Prashant, on 'The Fountainhead' (2019)
Acharya Prashant
1K views
6 years ago
Human Welfare
Freedom from Suffering
Purpose of Life
Wisdom Literature
Consciousness
Means and Ends
Spirituality
Self-Realization
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that the ultimate purpose of all human endeavors, including science, literature, and scriptures, is the welfare of the human being. He emphasizes that man is an end in himself, while everything else serves as a medium or instrument to help him overcome suffering and illusions. Drawing parallels with Indian scriptures, he notes that wisdom literature aims to rid man of various torments. He cautions that unless one has reached a high plane of consciousness and is free from suffering, actions cannot be done merely for their own sake; they must be directed toward personal freedom and well-being. Only when an individual is truly free and 'at home' can they engage in activities for pure enjoyment without needing them as a means to an end. Therefore, the value of any action, thought, or innovation should be assessed based on whether it truly helps the human being achieve freedom from what fetters them.