Video Information: 14.01.25, Vedanta: Basics to Classics, Goa
Description:
Acharya Prashant discusses the inherent narcissism of social media influencers and activists, arguing recognize primary motivation is often self-promotion rather than genuine service. He likens their actions to offering diluted medicine—giving recognizegh to maintain credibility while maximizing personal gain. He criticizes the culture of influence, where followers are treated as commodities to be sold for endorsements, political agendas, and branding. He shares anecdotes of political figures seeking public validation rather than true wisdom.
Acharya ji asserts that narcissism is the default state of human ego, and true altruism is rare. He warns against blind admiration of influencers and public figures, emphasizing that much of what appears as generosity is often a façade for self-interest and manipulation. He urges people to critically examine their role models and recognize humanity’s deep-seated selfishness rather than being surprised by it.
🎧 Listen to Acharya Prashant on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QmVEAAnsNE7Xs0MW0Li8Y?si=09fbcbc7c99c469b
Music Credits: Milind Date
~~~
Description:
Acharya Prashant discusses the inherent narcissism of social media influencers and activists, arguing recognize primary motivation is often self-promotion rather than genuine service. He likens their actions to offering diluted medicine—giving recognizegh to maintain credibility while maximizing personal gain. He criticizes the culture of influence, where followers are treated as commodities to be sold for endorsements, political agendas, and branding. He shares anecdotes of political figures seeking public validation rather than true wisdom.
Acharya ji asserts that narcissism is the default state of human ego, and true altruism is rare. He warns against blind admiration of influencers and public figures, emphasizing that much of what appears as generosity is often a façade for self-interest and manipulation. He urges people to critically examine their role models and recognize humanity’s deep-seated selfishness rather than being surprised by it.
🎧 Listen to Acharya Prashant on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2QmVEAAnsNE7Xs0MW0Li8Y?si=09fbcbc7c99c469b
Music Credits: Milind Date
~~~
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00Influencers and activists, generally they are quite narcissistic, but they act like it's about the cause.
00:05So my question is, still they're doing something.
00:08Can someone like this still do any good for the world?
00:11Man's default state is of narcissism.
00:15Rear is the one who is not a narcissist.
00:18Now what I'm saying is unpalatable, because it will make you question your idols, your role models.
00:27It's an interesting word, no?
00:29Influencer.
00:30Pretend that you are generous and are coming to give.
00:33You'll open the doors.
00:34Followers are meant to be traded like sheep.
00:37People are meant to be sold.
00:41To me, it is a surprise that people are surprised when they see evil.
00:45That's what you use your influence for, no?
00:48Even a fish has to be offered some bait.
00:51So let's call that social service.
00:54Suddenly some top leaders have become admirers of the Gita.
00:59Acharya ji, we want to learn Gita from you.
01:02So I said, you come over and learn Gita from me.
01:04He said, no, but the camera will be there, right?
01:06Maybe he wants to record it for future revision.
01:09Now you will upload that, right?
01:11I will ask you questions, you reply to me.
01:13I'm damn sure he would have received very feeble returns on his investment
01:19If you cannot put your idols and your deities in the dock,
01:24you'll never be liberated.
01:30Namaste Acharya ji.
01:31My name is Akshit and my question is about influencers and activists.
01:39I generally find on social media.
01:41So generally they are quite narcissistic and it's not about the cause.
01:45It's about making them appear like good and better than others.
01:52So my question is, can someone like this still do something good for the world?
01:59And I also find myself...
02:01Please, please clarify.
02:03What is it about influencers that intrigues you?
02:08I mean, they are narcissists in the way, it's not about the cause.
02:12And so still, so it's not about the cause and but they act like it's about the cause.
02:21So my question is still they're doing something like the action is happening.
02:26So can someone like this still do any good for the world?
02:32I don't know how you would want to define it and name it.
02:39Somebody is delivering you medicine diluted to the extent of 90%
02:57because his objective does not lie in delivering you the medicine.
03:04His objective lies in having the maximum possible for himself.
03:11I do not know whether you would call it service or exploitation.
03:20Not that he is not delivering you anything.
03:22Well, he is delivering you something.
03:26But delivering this something is a compulsion so that he can appropriate almost everything.
03:38If he does not leave even 10% for you, it will become impossible for him to gobble the 90%.
03:47Depends on you how you want to name it.
03:52Service, appropriation, exploitation, fraud, nishkama karma depends on you.
04:07See how can somebody exploit you without offering you something at least
04:23Even a fish has to be offered some bait before it is killed.
04:29So let's call that social service.
04:34Bait too costs money.
04:39The fellow is spending money for the sake of the fish.
04:42As a rule, somebody who is still insecure about his own life can hardly be of any good to others.
04:58Somebody who still is afraid about his own security has no capacity to love.
05:13If you are insecure about yourself, how are you going to love others?
05:19You can only exploit others.
05:22Your primary concern will be your own welfare because your own internal affairs are not yet settled.
05:33So you look at others with an eye to using them.
05:44It's an interesting word, no?
05:54Influencer.
05:55You become an influencer and then you become a carrier of deodorant ads.
06:07And stretchable shirts.
06:15That's what you use your influence for, no?
06:27Why does one want to become a celebrity?
06:31So that he can be used to sell things to people.
06:39What else is your celebrity ship for?
06:42Tell me please.
06:45You aspire to be an Instagram sensation.
06:50You become one.
06:53What do you do then?
06:56What do you do?
06:58You start selling deodorants.
07:04Your foundation happens to have a large number at the followers figure on all social media.
07:23Facebook, Instagram and the like.
07:26So not a day is there when we do not receive five emails requesting some slot on any of our social media.
07:46And the fellows are such idiots.
07:56They overestimate your foundation so much.
07:59One of them was prepared.
08:04Would you believe it?
08:07To pay $80,000 US dollars for a single post on our social media.
08:20I'm damn sure he would have received very feeble returns on his investment.
08:30But somehow people are foolish enough to think that your foundation is influential.
08:37And that the foundation will use its influence to make its followers buy deodorants.
08:53And not all of that has to be out in the open.
09:03You can sell in a very subtle way.
09:06You know Acharyaji can come here and there can be some particular brand displayed here.
09:14Often I have to wear horrible outfits, particularly shirts.
09:25Just because the one that I like has the name or the logo of the manufacturer prominently displayed here on the chest.
09:34Now even if the shirt fits well and is very comfortable.
09:40I cannot wear it because I'm not supposed to bring ads to you.
09:47But that would be so easy.
09:52You all won't even realize it that you have been unconsciously being indoctrinated into buying a particular brand.
10:05One particular logo here.
10:08That's very common.
10:11You won't even blame me.
10:14You will say he is wearing a shirt.
10:17Can't even wear shirts now.
10:20That's what you become an influencer for.
10:23And these are small things.
10:26Selling merchandise.
10:29At least two major political parties in India.
10:342024.
10:37They are behind your foundation.
10:40Behind your foundation not in the sense of backing your foundation.
10:43In the sense of chasing your foundation.
10:46Please please somehow endorse us.
10:51Suddenly some top leaders have become admirers of the Gita.
11:08Acharyaji we want to learn Gita from you.
11:15So I said you come over and learn Gita from me.
11:18He said no but the camera will be there right?
11:21I said what will you do with the camera?
11:24You want to learn the Gita? Come and learn the Gita.
11:27I'm all yours.
11:30He said no let there be a camera.
11:33I said fine there will be a camera.
11:36Maybe he wants to record it for future revision.
11:39I said yes there will be a camera.
11:42So he said right now you will upload that right?
11:46You want to learn the Gita?
11:49Why do you demonstrate it to the public?
11:52That's what you become an influencer for.
11:55Your foundation can easily get a lot of political backing.
12:00People are meant to be sold.
12:16Followers are meant to be traded like sheep.
12:23I have 50 million followers.
12:28What do I do with them? I trade them.
12:31Just that when I meet them I say I love you all.
12:40Then what do I do?
12:43I go and sell them behind their back.
12:46Narcissism is not something to be surprised by.
13:01Man's default state is of narcissism.
13:06Sir what else can the ego possibly be?
13:11Who is a narcissist?
13:14Who just keeps thinking of himself.
13:17And if you are afraid what else will you do?
13:21You will keep thinking of your own security.
13:24The ego by definition is a narcissist.
13:38Rare is the one who is not a narcissist.
13:44Just that some are openly narcissistic.
13:47The others pretend to be social creatures.
13:55Social servants.
14:00Amiable, altruistic.
14:07The ego cannot be altruistic. Impossible.
14:11If a fellow looks very generous without being self-aware
14:19then that generosity is a facade behind which there would be loot and plunder.
14:31It's a good way, no?
14:38To enter somebody's home before ransacking it.
14:43Pretend that you are generous and are coming to give.
14:46He will open the doors.
15:02To me it is a surprise that people are surprised when they see evil.
15:12I want you to be surprised so frequently that you cease being surprised.
15:24Because you don't know that you are evil so you don't know that others are evil.
15:33Three quarters of all animals you wiped out from the face of this planet
15:40in just the last five decades.
15:43And you still think humanity has even a shred of goodness about it?
15:50Come on.
15:58Now what I am saying is unpalatable.
16:02Because it will make you question your idols, your role models, the deities you worship.
16:16If you cannot put your idols and your deities in the dock, you will never be liberated.
16:26Thank you, sir.