Acharya Prashant clarifies the nature of true scripture in response to a question about its relevance to modern dietary choices. He explains that not every ancient book is a scripture; a true scripture is one that deals essentially with self-knowledge, helping one understand who they are. A book that merely discusses dietary choices, or a person who only advises on health, cannot be considered a scripture or a Guru, respectively. A true Guru encourages self-knowledge, and a true "Shastra" (scripture) is what facilitates this, making topics like food a miscellaneous matter. The speaker argues that quoting so-called scriptures to justify eating meat or milk is based on a misunderstanding, as such texts are not genuine scriptures. A real scripture prompts the inquiry, "Who am I and what am I supposed to do with this life?" The answer, he suggests, is that we are conscious entities meant to elevate, respect, and love consciousness. From this realization, veganism emerges as a smooth and logical consequence. He asserts that a person who claims to know the scriptures but is not a vegan does not truly know them, and one who uses scripture to argue against veganism is dangerous. Acharya Prashant identifies Vedanta as the only path within Hinduism that truly qualifies as scripture. He describes Vedanta not as a set of commandments or beliefs, but as a system of inquiry that encourages fundamental questions about the self and its relationship with the world. He posits that engaging with Vedanta and prioritizing self-knowledge naturally leads to the abandonment of all violent behaviors, as violence stems from ignorance and a lack of self-knowledge. Once you know who you are, you cannot remain violent. He acknowledges that many vegans are averse to religion because it is often cited to justify animal cruelty. However, he contends that true religion and religiosity are the very roots of veganism. Veganism is impossible without compassion, which is taught by real scriptures. Thus, Vedanta and veganism are intrinsically linked. To communicate this message effectively, he advises appealing to the essential humanness and consciousness in others, reminding them of their natural love for animals like rabbits or calves, and questioning how they could then cause them harm.