Philosopher, author, and founder of PrashantAdvait Foundation, Acharya Prashant, speaks to The Pioneer over an exclusive chat for our weekly segment of Community Wise, discussing the genesis of how the organisation was created, its vision, and more.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
As a child, the founder of the PrashantAdvait Foundation was an avid reader! So, Acharya Prashant’s father’s library contained a diverse mix of literature, including spiritual ones. Texts like the Upanishads helped him branch out organically and multi-directionally. He wanted to know and deeply valued the words of those who did. Education at IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, a brush with the Indian Civil Service, and several years of corporate experience provided vital insights into how the world works. And the world, as he discovered, had too much suffering, ugliness, and ignorance. As a young guy, he did not enjoy and saw the shape of things and wanted to change it.
Spirituality, in virtually any form, fosters resilience and helps people see their problems in a different light. One way to conceptualise spirituality is as a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself. Within the framework of organised religions, it refers to the sense of belonging to a world that a higher power created and loved, and that’s what this foundation does.
Sharing a little about the genesis of how the organisation was created, the spiritually minded founder continues, “At 25, I created a leadership course that combined wisdom and spiritual reading and offered it in several top management institutes. I taught on weekends with my corporate employment. This training led to the establishment of Advait Life Education, which eventually became the PrashantAdvait Foundation.”
Scientific investigation and spiritual exploration complement one another. The foundation believes that the material truths of life reveal the spiritual truth. So they prioritise scientific rigour in addressing global issues. Spirituality does not contradict science but rather transcends it. “Our global volunteers help spread teachings. They play an important role in a variety of channels, including social media and releases. Our volunteers in information technology have created an in-house learning portal and mobile app with a massive reservoir of resources from diverse wisdom traditions around the world.”
Throughout history, humanity has tended to operate from its primal bodily center. Despite the availability of great works of wisdom, the human ego misinterprets them and uses them for personal gain. Although the foundation has made significant progress in the outside world, they still maintain an animalistic and ignorant mindset within themselves. He further discusses how the foundation aims to develop a “new humanity” and the main concepts and practices that will help achieve this vision: “The new humanity understands that pursuing exterior growth without internal illumination leads to failure. Self-awareness, compassion, and discretion must evolve with science and technology. Our temperament should align with scientific principles, just as we consume scientific products. Unbiased inquiry involves exploring all areas of life, including relationships, aspirations, and value systems.”
The foundation’s use of technology has broadened its reach to a global audience and fostered a lively community of learners. So, you’re wondering how? Let us get to know: “The foundation has accounts on multiple social media sites, providing global reach to various audiences. The foundation’s YouTube channel is the world’s largest knowledge channel. The foundation has created a mobile app that provides a more comprehensive learning experience for participants. Our instructional sessions are mostly delivered through the app, which has received over a million downloads.”
Most spiritual words and phrases have lost their original meaning. Popular spiritual beliefs such as meditation, devotion, karma, and rebirth are often misinterpreted and harmful. Basic phrases such as God, love, attention, success, freedom, faith, and destiny are being misused, perpetuating false beliefs. Finally, the most common spiritual mistake is about “enlightenment”. The founder stated that the foundation strive to clear up misconceptions. “The foundation’s app, has regular participants who take wisdom courses with us. Again, thousands of comments are submitted here daily. Many comments are testimonies. Our participants like sharing their experiences, whether positive or negative, as well as their misconceptions and realisations. Transformative experiences often involve getting an understanding of important concerns for a full life, while others describe breaking free from old habits and identities.” There is evidence of widespread change in people’s lives!
Balancing individual enlightenment and social transformation, the founder is using several tactics, such as, “Personal enlightenment is a misnomer. It simply means ‘to know’ or ‘to remove the obscurity of wrong beliefs.’ It is not a supernatural or fancy concept. To be enlightened means to be free from the personal. How can enlightenment be personalised? Personal enlightenment is inherently meaningless. If enlightenment is personal, how does it differ from accumulating whatever in the world for ‘myself’? Spiritual processes are defined as disintegration rather than buildup. The process involves becoming less rather than greater! Self-centeredness can lead to violence against society. Giving up the need to do things for oneself might lead to better outcomes for others. Pursuing spirituality can lead to societal reform. Inner changes lead to exterior changes. There is no need for ‘balance’ if the inner and exterior go together.”
The foundation’s aim is to transform individuals to reach their full potential and create a beautiful and harmonious world. The foundation leverages wisdom literature to achieve this goal. Their mission is to make the core of world wisdom literature accessible to everyone. They gather insight from several sources, including ancient Greek thinkers and modern philosophers. Vedanta is central to the foundation’s strategy! Campaigns are launched to raise awareness of climate change, economic and social challenges, mental health, and women’s empowerment. “Participants in our live workshops on wisdom scriptures have already begun to support the foundation. I teach live thirty days every month. The foundation aims to challenge common misconceptions and promote intellectual spirituality. Connecting with my wisdom lectures helps realise the foundation’s vision. Participants who unlock their inner light are empowered to have a positive impact on the world. Self-awareness empowers individuals to face personal, social, and global difficulties without fear. The foundation’s aim is to make it a reality. Individuals who have experienced the transformative power of wisdom are motivated to spread the light to others. They contribute by devoting time, effort, and resources to the mission,” he added. Advaita Vedanta’s spiritual teacher is also an environmental, science, and anti-superstition activist, advocating for human freedom.
