Acharya Prashant explains that humans often identify themselves with the body and mind, which experience hunger, thirst, and conditioning, rather than their true nature of liberation. He points out that liberation is our inherent nature, yet living in accordance with it is a choice. It is a paradox of human existence that one can live contrary to their true nature and still achieve physical health, wealth, social status, and longevity. Modern advancements in technology, medicine, and insurance have created a protective layer that hides the inherent suffering and falsehood of a life lived without spiritual depth. Consequently, there are no external warnings or immediate consequences for living a life devoid of truth or compassion. He further clarifies that spirituality is not a means to attain worldly success, health, or better relationships. In fact, those who are not spiritual often possess these things in greater abundance. Using the example of vegetarianism, he argues that choosing it for physical health is a weak motivation because nature does not demand it for survival or strength. The true reason for such choices should be rooted in love, compassion, and consciousness. He warns that the world can function perfectly well without love, joy, or liberation, and that pursuing spirituality might even lead to falling behind in the worldly race for success. The tragedy of the modern age is that individuals successfully deceive themselves into believing they are happy and fearless, as the traditional triggers that exposed such illusions, like the constant presence of death or danger, are being systematically removed by progress.
