Sometimes, two people from very different worlds come together and end up revealing more about society than about themselves.
That’s what happened when lyricist and rationalist Javed Akhtar and spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev shared the stage at the event a few years ago.
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The conversation, meant to be a discussion, turned into a sharp exchange of ideas—one that still sparks reactions today.
During the interaction, Javed Akhtar criticised spiritual leaders for asking people to distrust their five senses and instead place complete faith in their teachings.
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He argued that such approaches make people more dependent and less capable of thinking for themselves.
Javed Akhtar even remarked that if the mind is so unreliable, one might as well remove the brain and see how that works out.
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Sadhguru responded with sarcasm, suggesting that Javed Akhtar had already taken some guru’s advice not to use his brain seriously.
The two also debated the difference between faith and belief, with Javed Akhtar saying that faith without reason borders on foolishness, while Sadhguru defended the value of inner experience beyond logic.
While Javed Akhtar’s rationalism is refreshing in an era of guru worship, it’s important to acknowledge that not all followers of spirituality are brainwashed sheep.
However, when faith replaces inquiry and becomes a tool for control, voices like Javed Akhtar’s must be heard—even if uncomfortably loud.
At the end of the day, both belief and disbelief must coexist, but neither should silence the other.
