Acharya Prashant explains that the law of karma does not apply to animals because they lack the capacity for choice. Animals are entirely dictated by their biological conditioning and physical nature, meaning they cannot act out of compassion or seek liberation. Since they have no option to act differently, they are neither rewarded nor punished for their actions. In contrast, human beings possess the unique ability to choose between their animalistic conditioning and higher values such as freedom, joy, love, and compassion. This capacity for decision-making places a significant responsibility on humans, as their internal states can vary greatly based on the choices they make. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that humans cannot justify their actions by comparing themselves to animals. For instance, while a lion must kill to survive and thus commits no crime, a human who chooses to kill needlessly will face consequences because they had the option to act otherwise. Ultimately, a human being is defined by the ability to choose, and the exercise of these choices determines the quality of their life and their spiritual standing.
