Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the collective desire to return to a 'normal life' after the coronavirus pandemic. He begins by questioning what is meant by 'normal'. He clarifies that this 'normal' refers to the life people were living before November-December 2019, the life that existed before the pandemic. He then poses two critical questions: First, why do you feel that life was ideal? Second, where did this pandemic come from? If your 'normal life' was so good and right, how did it give rise to this pandemic? He asserts that the life from which this pandemic has emerged is the very life you want to return to as quickly as possible. Acharya Prashant explains that the entire world, its people, leaders, and institutions, are working towards a single shared goal: to regain the same kind of life that existed before the pandemic. He questions the wisdom of this goal, asking why anyone would think that the life before the pandemic was ideal, good, or right. He points out that if that life was so perfect, this pandemic would not have occurred. The pandemic is a direct consequence of the life we were living. To desire to return to the very life that caused the problem is a grave mistake that will only lead to another, possibly more terrifying, pandemic in the future. This future pandemic could be of any kind, not just external but also internal. He addresses two extreme viewpoints regarding the pandemic. One is that it is purely a coincidence, unrelated to human actions. He refutes this, noting that while there is an element of chance, the pandemic is largely a result of our actions (karma). The second viewpoint is that it is a curse from God, which he dismisses as incorrect. The truth, he says, lies in the middle: the pandemic is partly a coincidence and partly the consequence of our collective actions. He explains that our 'normal life' involves the relentless exploitation of nature, driven by greed and consumption. We cut down forests and intrude deep into jungles, bringing us into contact with viruses that were previously hidden. The entire supply chain of the products we consume is based on this destruction. The common person is the ultimate consumer, driving this entire destructive cycle. He criticizes the hypocrisy of feeling sad about environmental destruction while continuing to consume the very products that cause it. Acharya Prashant points out the absurdity of wanting the 'normal life' back, which includes pollution, traffic, and a consumerist lifestyle that is destroying the planet. He highlights the positive side effects of the lockdown, such as cleaner air and rivers, and the realization that much of our consumption is unnecessary. He concludes by stating that the desire to return to the old 'normal life' is a foolish and dangerous thought. Instead of wanting the flawed life back, we should use this opportunity to learn from the crisis and build a better, more conscious way of living. When the lockdown ends, we should not demand the old normal life back, but rather say that we will now live better, as the old way of life was not normal but abnormal, insane, and mad.