Acharya Prashant addresses the question of whether animal liberation and the vegan movement are consistent with ancient traditions of meat and milk consumption. He begins by dispelling the myth that our ancient forefathers were primarily carnivores. He asserts that while humans have had the capacity to eat meat for a long time, scientific analysis of fossils and other evidence indicates that early man was primarily a herbivore. For a hunter-gatherer, it was far easier to pluck fruit than to hunt, catch, and kill an animal. Therefore, he argues, meat consumption was likely sporadic and not a staple, and the idea that man has always been a meat-eater needs to be refuted. The speaker contends that the current global surge in meat-eating is a recent phenomenon, not more than 200 years old, which emerged with industrialization. This trend was fueled by the popularization of the "highly unscientific" belief that only meat can provide essential nutrients. He draws a parallel with the tobacco industry's past propaganda, which promoted smoking as healthy. Acharya Prashant states that when greed and vested financial interests are at stake, industries sponsor pseudo-scientific reports and spread misinformation to protect their profits. He applies this same logic to the meat, dairy, and fossil fuel industries, which he says create doubt to delay public consensus on their harmful impacts. Acharya Prashant explains that the dairy and meat industries are inseparably linked, a fact many people, especially in India, are unaware of. He points out the hypocrisy of those who worship the cow as a mother yet are complicit in her torture through artificial insemination, constant milking, and abandonment or slaughter once she is infertile. He calls the meat-eater a "self-deluder" who chooses to remain ignorant of this reality. He emphasizes that milk is no less a cruel product than meat or eggs, and the two industries are symbiotically related. He also dismisses religious justifications for meat and milk consumption, such as citing the habits of figures like Shri Krishna. He calls this a selective and disrespectful use of religion to serve one's own "ugly self-interests." He argues that one should emulate the eternal message of these figures—compassion, love, and realization—not their time-bound customs like food or dress. He criticizes spiritual leaders who avoid speaking the truth on these matters to please their followers, especially a Western audience with "meaty dollars," comparing them to shopkeepers who prioritize sales over truth. Finally, Acharya Prashant outlines a holistic approach for the vegan movement. He advocates for using social media and popular culture to change perceptions, such as portraying the hero in movies as a vegan. He suggests fiscal measures, like taxation, to make the price of meat reflect its true environmental and social costs, which are currently subsidized by non-meat-eaters. He stresses the importance of educating people, especially children, about the realities of animal agriculture. Ultimately, he posits that veganism must be a spiritual movement rooted in compassion for all beings, as a person who is cruel to other humans will inevitably be cruel to animals.