"In this article published in The Pioneer, Acharya Prashant raises some fundamental questions regarding animal cruelty and says, "I do not talk about being kind to animals. I talk about where violence actually lies, and my only work is to situate it rightly."

"Memory itself is neutral, mechanical, the same function that lets you recall a phone number or the way home without any preference for one over the other. Left alone, it would let most things fade, including the old slight that still bothers you for no reason you can name. The ego is what keeps the slight alive, picking through that storage and pulling out exactly what serves its story while leaving the rest to fade on its own."

"Indian spiritual figures have been travelling abroad for more than a century. Halls have filled, applause has sounded, and followings have formed across the world. My tour of Britain in May to July 2026 might, at first glance, look like one more link in that same chain. But what mattered in those rooms was not the name of the venue; it was who sat across from me, and the standard against which the argument was placed."

"Even the students of Oxford and Cambridge, brilliant in their fields, can sense that something remains missing, some lack that neither degrees nor money can fill. But their education does not tell them that what is missing is the cleansing of the eye and the clearing of intent. Because if the knower himself is fearful, greedy, and inwardly unclean, then even the best knowledge will finally serve ego and violence."

"The decision to depart, when genuine, must be the person’s own, arrived at in full awareness, not extracted by family exhaustion, economic pressure, or a system that has run out of ideas. It cannot come from pain alone, because suffering without self-knowledge produces desperation rather than clarity, and desperation and dignity are not on the same register."

"Most education concerns itself with objects. Chemistry studies substances, physics studies matter and energy, economics studies exchange, etc. Even psychology studies behaviour as something observable from the outside. The curriculum grows more detailed each year. Our grasp of the world becomes more precise. But you, the self, are not an object in that world. You are the one to whom the world appears. And that fact is seldom examined."

"Every few years, a similar pattern keeps repeating. A set of names tumbles into public view, and the world performs its ritual of shock. And then, quietly, the cycle completes itself: the outrage fades, the names are absorbed into the archives, and the pattern continues."

"Without self-enquiry, rationalism turns outward-only. It scrutinizes religion, superstition, tradition, politics, and the beliefs of others, but it never pauses to examine the psychological centre doing the scrutinizing. The ego remains untouched, and rationality becomes its armour."

"The believer says ‘Exists’ and clutches scripture, the atheist says ‘No’ and clutches logic. In either case, the ego experiences some relief after speaking. In questioning the existence of God, the ego successfully hides its own non-existence."

"Meditation techniques, however sincerely adopted, rarely produce transformation. A technique reassures the ego that it can remain intact while adding a spiritual activity to its repertoire. Such methods become refined forms of dishonesty because they divert attention from the real task of examining the seeker, and instead keep the seeker busy with well-intentioned rituals."

"The test is straightforward. Whatever aligns with Shruti is dharma. Whatever defies Shruti, however old or beloved, is not. Shruti demands only one thing: self-knowledge. Everything else is ornamental."

"Marxism is not wrong for seeking justice. It is incomplete in believing justice can come without awakening. When awakening does come, whether in a Kolkata adda, a Dakshineshwar temple, a Russian factory, a Wall Street floor, or a village panchayat, one sees that every great outer revolution begins when one has the courage to challenge one’s inner structures."

"In their own ways, all three ideologies protect the ego’s independence, form, or memory. And because they begin from ignorance of the true Self, none can lead to real welfare. All rest on the same foundation: the belief that the ego deserves preservation. Where the ego is sacred, suffering is inevitable."

"We mistake freedom for something the world grants us: the right to speak, move, or choose. But whatever the world gives, it can also take away. This is why the scriptures speak of an inner freedom: the one that's untouched by time, politics, or power. It doesn't ask for permission and is independent of praise or censorship, admiration or indifference."

"Buildings, rituals, and identities all come and go. They cannot be the heart of religion. What is timeless is our love for truth, for reliability, for eternity itself. That love explains why we shrink at dishonesty, why we resist betrayal, and why we fear death. Deep within, something in us yearns for the changeless."

"Navratri’s point is simple: what is beyond form is reached only by going through form. The task, then, is to meet life as it comes, without shortcuts or avoidance. In these nine nights, the real ‘vrat’ should be simple and exact: approach the Durga Saptashati with your whole heart, as a ‘sankalp’ not to remain as you currently are."

"Integrity does not mean balancing desire and duty; it means seeing they were never separate. True integrity means no division between oneself and the world. One who lives from clarity does not need to 'add on' responsibility; their very living becomes responsible."

"Most people do not arrive a t religion through inquiry but inherit it— through tradition passed down by parents, neighbors, and priests. They often put sacred texts on a high shelf, calling them holy, but hardly examine them with genuine curiosity. "

"True religion does not start with belief. It starts with a question: Why am I not at peace? It begins when a person, tired of running, pauses and looks within. That’s how religion came into being, not as a tradition or community, but as an honest response to the suffering within."

"You hear a familiar answer: a way to stay fit, reduce stress, or maybe a sequence of well-practised postures. You see glossy images: flexible bodies on Yoga mats, people meditating with closed eyes and calm faces. The worn-out cliche rings hollow: the union of mind, body and soul."

"When powerful narratives in all walks of life are seeking to monopolize public conversation and crowd out, or forcefully silence dissenting voices, freedom of expression becomes even more valuable."

"Meditation is the submergence of the ego in its essential nature. It is at the root of all self-knowledge and wisdom. However, most often, what we call meditation is just escapism—using some ‘method of meditation’ to superficially soothe our restlessness or gain temporary and deceptive relief from stress."

"You look at the world, you look at two or twenty things, and an immediate discrimination arises within. You pick one of those things, thinking that one particular element, object, or option is better than the rest."

"As humans, we often find ourselves trapped in an elaborate illusion—the belief that life is a perpetual negotiation between self-interest and collective welfare."

In the New Indian Express article, Acharya Prashant suggests using the coronavirus lockdown as an opportunity for self-reflection and spiritual growth. He emphasizes the importance of spending this time in self-observation, fostering genuine relationships, and reading spiritual literature. Acharya Prashant highlights the works of Upanishads, Rumi, Hafiz, Adi Shankaracharya, Dhammapada, and Kabir as valuable resources for spiritual enrichment during the lockdown period.

"In a article published in The New Indian Express, Acharya Prashant emphasizes that spirituality is not for everyone and should be pursued only when one feels a profound dissatisfaction with worldly offerings. He explains that a true spiritual journey requires readiness and inner realization. Until then, individuals should continue living their lives, acknowledging that spirituality demands a deep understanding and the right disposition."

In a article published in The New Indian Express, Acharya Prashant emphasizes that true spirituality integrates with everyday life, rather than being a separate practice. He argues that intelligent spirituality involves honest self-observation, detachment, and understanding both the world and oneself. Addressing internal conflicts and living authentically are crucial for spiritual growth. Acharya Prashant encourages a holistic approach, blending spiritual wisdom with daily experiences to achieve genuine inner peace and fulfillment.