Should we listen to Acharya Prashant’s Teachings? Is he misguiding the youth? Why is he so popular on social media?
Who is Acharya Prashant and Why is He So Popular?
Acharya Prashant is a name which you have definitely heard of, especially if you spend a lot of time on the internet. Well, Mr Prashant has become one of India’s most popular influential spiritual figures, surpassing even Sandeep Maheshwari and CarryMinati in terms of YouTube popularity. With over 55 million subscribers, his influence continues to grow, attracting both praise and criticism. What makes him so different? Unlike many traditional spiritual leaders, he presents his ideas in a bold, no-nonsense manner, making his teachings highly engaging for younger audiences.
Several reasons contribute to his massive success:
- Raw and Direct Communication: Unlike sugar-coated spiritual discourses, Acharya is known for his blunt approach and critically about societal and personal issues.
- Social Media Optimization: He has mastered YouTube’s algorithm, producing high-retention content that keeps people watching.
- Modern Relevance: His teachings often focus on real-world problems rather than just abstract spiritual ideas.
- Appealing to Skeptics: Unlike many gurus, he welcomes challenging questions, making him popular even among materialists and atheists who still seek some form of guidance.
How Much Does Acharya Prashant Earn from YouTube?
This is a highly asked question. Therefore, let’s address this – with millions of subscribers and high engagement, Acharya Prashant’s YouTube Channel earnings are estimated to be in the range of ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore per month, depending on ad revenue, memberships, and sponsorships. While YouTube is a significant income stream for him, Mr Prashant’s primary revenue comes mostly from his book sales, courses, and retreats.
Is Acharya Prashant an IITian?
Yes, Acharya Prashant is an IITian. He completed his B.Tech from IIT Delhi and later pursued an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. His academic background in India’s top institutions adds credibility to his analytical and intellectual approach to spirituality.
Is Acharya Prashant Truly Spiritual, or Just Promoting Materialism?’
If you have been following Acharya Prashant for a while, you might have noticed him extensively talk about detachment, non-duality (Advaita Vedanta), and self-awareness, but a closer look suggests that his philosophy often leans toward materialism rather than true spiritual transcendence.
His core message frequently revolves around rejecting traditional religious beliefs and embracing a more practical, rational mindset. While this might seem like a genuine spiritual awakening for many, it is obvious that his teachings often veer into atheism and a Charvaka-style materialistic worldview rather than following true Vedantic wisdom.
For example:
- True Advaita Vedanta teaches that the material world is an illusion (Maya) and that ultimate reality is beyond material concerns. However, Acharya Prashant’s teachings often frames detachment in a way that promotes individualism and material success, which contradicts traditional Vedantic teachings.
- He criticizes rituals, devotion, and bhakti (devotional practices), yet offers his own interpretations as the only “true” spirituality.
- Acharya Prashant’s teachings also reject concepts of divine grace and even karma, which are fundamental to traditional Indian philosophy.
This contradiction in Acharya Prashant’s discourses raises an important question for us: Why claim to follow Advaita Vedanta while subtly promoting atheism and materialist thought? If one wants to follow atheism, that’s fine—but why misrepresent traditional wisdom?
Where Acharya Prashant Gets It Right
Despite these contradictions, Acharya Prashant is not completely misguiding the youth. He has taken strong stances on certain important topics, making him a necessary voice in modern India’s intellectual landscape.
- Defending Hinduism’s Core Figures: He has logically countered critics of Sri Ram and Sri Krishna, debunking biased narratives that seek to demonize them.
- Exposing Religious Dogma: He boldly speaks against blind faith and superstition, pushing people to think critically about their beliefs.
- Addressing India’s Social Issues: He offers logical solutions to problems like moral decline, overindulgence and cultural identity crises.
However, for all his boldness, he seems hesitant to challenge certain powerful systems. Let us see how….
The Issues Acharya Prashant Avoids
Despite his fearless approach, there are certain topics where Acharya Prashant remains noticeably silent:
- The Broken Education System: While he frequently discusses mental clarity and intellectual awakening, he rarely criticizes India’s flawed, outdated education system, which prioritizes rote learning over actual education. which is one of the biggest sources of stress and depression among students, and even suicides.
- Big Pharma and Medical Industry: In a world where the medical industry and pharmaceutical greed are causing a lot of problems to the common people, he rarely addresses how the medical industry exploits people.
- Government Policies and Corporate Influence: Many of his teachings focus on personal self-improvement, but systemic issues like corruption, economic inequality, and political manipulation are often ignored.
This selective outspokenness raises important questions about Acharya Prashant’s teachings and motivations. Is he genuinely seeking truth, or is he just choosing safe topics that won’t challenge powerful institutions?
The Best Thing About Acharya Prashant: His Criticism of the Meat Industry
One of the strongest aspects of Acharya Prashant’s teachings is his promotion of vegetarianism and veganism. Unlike many self-proclaimed spiritual leaders, he openly criticizes the meat industry, calling it one of the worst sources of environmental destruction and animal suffering.
- Animal agriculture is a major contributor to environmental problems, deforestation, land pollution and water depletion. By promoting plant-based living, Acharya Prashant aligns with both traditional Indian ethics and modern environmental science.
- He highlights the ethical hypocrisy of so-called “spiritual” people consuming meat, something that many gurus avoid discussing.
- His stance on compassion toward animals is perhaps his most genuine and impactful message.
Conclusion: Watch Him, But Think for Yourself
There is nothing wrong with watching Acharya Prashant’s teachings. He offers valuable insights, especially for those looking to break free from blind faith and societal conditioning. However, his teachings should not be followed blindly.
- Use your own mind while listening to him.
- Cross-check his claims with authentic Vedantic and spiritual texts.
- Recognize his biases, especially his tendency to lean towards atheism and materialism under the guise of spirituality.
- Be aware of what he doesn’t talk about—silence on important issues can be just as revealing as words.
At the end of the day, Acharya Prashant is neither a complete fraud nor an unquestionable guru. He is a thought-provoking speaker, but his words should be questioned and analyzed, just like any other source of knowledge.
