Acharya Prashant addresses the grave issue of physical abuse and poor parenting, noting that globally, sixty percent of children aged two to fourteen face regular physical abuse from caregivers. He explains that violence against children often stems from the parents' own lack of internal maturity and frustration. Many parents are essentially 'children' themselves, lacking self-knowledge and the ability to handle the responsibilities of raising a conscious human being. When a child refuses to obey, an ignorant parent, lacking the skills to communicate or elevate the child's consciousness, resorts to irritation, anger, and physical violence. He emphasizes that raising a child is a massive project requiring immense responsibility, yet many people reproduce under social pressure without any preparation or capability. He further argues that treating a child with violence is equivalent to treating them as a mere physical body or an animal, rather than a conscious human being. While animals are trained through physical rewards and punishments, humans should be guided through communication and the elevation of consciousness. Physical abuse leads to long-term psychological and neurological damage, creating personalities that are either suppressed and timid or aggressive and violent. Acharya Prashant points out that most deep-seated complexes in adults originate from childhood trauma. He critiques the modern notion of 'parents as gods,' suggesting that in the past, parents were humble enough to send children to a Guru for proper upbringing. He concludes by stating that bringing a life into the world without the capacity to nurture it into a conscious, empowered individual is a significant crime against the child and society.
