Acharya Prashant explains that there are two kinds of knowledge. The first is lower knowledge, which is called Avidya or Apara Vidya. This includes all the Vedas, as well as disciplines like prosody (Chhand), etymology (Nirukta), astrology (Jyotish), and grammar (Vyakaran). The second kind is higher knowledge, known as Vidya or Para Vidya. The characteristic of Vidya is that it leads to the 'Akshar,' which is the indestructible, immortal, and timeless reality. 'Kshar' means that which is prone to destruction, while 'Akshar' is that which time cannot destroy. The speaker then introduces a third level of knowledge, which he states is far below even Avidya. This is the knowledge that fills the common mind, constituting 99% of what most people know. This knowledge does not come from books of wisdom or university curricula but from sources like gossip, television, movies, and other social influences. The speaker refers to this as "gutter knowledge." He explains that this type of knowledge is what makes people feel a sense of belonging and security, as they are part of a large group that shares the same nonsense. This prevents them from seeking what is truly valuable. The speaker clarifies that one must first rise above this "gutter knowledge" by using Avidya. Avidya is not the negation of Vidya but a lower level of knowledge that prepares one for Vidya. It encompasses both science and spirituality. He emphasizes that both the knowledge from the rishis (sages) and the knowledge from professors fall under the category of Avidya. However, most people today are not even fit candidates to receive Avidya because they are steeped in "gutter knowledge." The process of Avidya helps to cleanse the mind of its attachments to destructible things and false identities. Once the mind is purified through Avidya, one becomes ready for Vidya. Through Vidya, one realizes their own non-existence as a separate, destructible self. This realization is what leads to the indestructible, the Akshar. The speaker concludes that the purpose of lower knowledge (Avidya) is to prepare an individual for higher knowledge (Vidya), which ultimately leads to the dissolution of the destructible self and the realization of the immortal.
