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According to Krishna, who is an Asura? || Acharya Prashant, on Bhagavad Gita (2020)
Scriptures and Saints
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1 year ago
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Asura
Scriptures
Vedanta
Upanishads
Ego
Consciousness
Shri Krishna
Description

Acharya Prashant discusses Chapter 16 of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, where Shri Krishna distinguishes between the divine and the demonic (asuri) disposition. He explains that the defining characteristic of an asura is the rejection of scriptures in favor of acting on personal desires and ego. Shri Krishna advises that the scriptures should be the authority for determining right action, as the ego is a foolish guide that leads to self-harm. The speaker emphasizes that scriptures like the Upanishads are not mystical whims but are high-quality research documents resulting from centuries of deep internal observation by thousands of sages. Acharya Prashant highlights that the demonic mindset is highly contemporary, characterized by the belief that there is no central truth, that life is merely physical, and that lust is the primary cause of existence. He notes that modern asuras may even participate in external religious ceremonies while actively avoiding the core wisdom of Vedanta. He argues that humanity has come to a low point where ignoring or insulting scriptures is seen as an intellectual accomplishment. He concludes by stating that spirituality is essential for human consciousness and urges people to return to the scriptures with sincerity and attention to find true freedom.