On YouTube
Casual relationships on social media || Acharya Prashant (2020)
8.9K views
5 years ago
Casual relationships
Intention
Dating apps
Freedom
Youth
Exploration
Foolishness
Arranged life
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses the trend of casual relationships among the youth, stating that whether it is helpful or harmful depends on the individual's background. For someone coming from a place where life is very arranged—from school and college to job and marriage—this trend can be something for the better. He explains that even in a perverse way, it allows one to gain some freedom from the very straight-jacketed enclosures of life, and in that context, it's alright. On the other hand, if a person has already been enjoying the fruits of a liberal environment and then, out of mischief, uses these apps for cheap thrills, it is obviously not doing them any good. The speaker clarifies that exploration in itself has nothing evil about it. It is a good thing to know people, especially as a young person, as one cannot learn about life by remaining confined within walls or just by reading books. Meeting new people is necessary to understand life. However, the speaker strongly advises being cautious of one's 'driver' or intention. If the idea is to exploit, objectify, or give expression to the cheapest part of one's personality, then it is a waste of time for everyone involved. He warns that the worst within a person often shows up in sexual and romantic relationships. A seemingly casual thing can unconsciously assume great sizes and come to dominate one's life, causing one's mind to become restless and the quality of thoughts to deteriorate. Ultimately, Acharya Prashant advises that while one should not be insulated from the world, one must be cautious about the quality of relationships. He states that while a relationship is no crime, foolishness is the greatest crime. Therefore, one must not be foolish when striking a connection, as the intent behind it matters the most.