Acharya Prashant explains that education is primarily about understanding rather than the mere accumulation of knowledge. He describes the mind as being constantly occupied with thoughts, which are either random or the result of conscious thinking. He asserts that all thoughts are external influences, arising either from physical objects in space or from memories and future apprehensions in time. Since the mind is filled with these external influences and understanding is an internal, personal process, a preoccupied mind acts as a barrier to true understanding.