Acharya Prashant explains that the core issue regarding killing is not the act itself, but the nature of the killer. He contrasts animals with humans, noting that animals like lions are programmed by nature and lack the higher consciousness or choice to practice compassion. They are compared to machines that operate in pre-scripted ways. In contrast, human beings possess high consciousness and the ability to make decisions. Therefore, when a human chooses to kill, it is a different matter entirely because humans have the option to choose less violent alternatives for their sustenance.