Acharya Prashant explains that the fundamental difference between humans and animals lies in the act of questioning. He states that to date, no animal has ever asked him a question, and this very capacity for inquiry is what sets humans apart. While he is available to all beings, including animals like rabbits, dogs, or pythons, they do not come to ask. The act of asking signifies an eagerness to know and a restlessness in not knowing. When a human doesn't know something, they feel uneasy, dissatisfied, and cannot find rest, which compels them to ask. This is the unique quality of human consciousness: it constantly seeks to rise upwards. When a person asks a question, they are attempting to elevate their consciousness from a state of not-knowing to a state of knowing. The lower state of consciousness is characterized by ignorance and inertia, where there is no understanding of what is happening. A higher state of consciousness begins with the sense of 'I' or the ego, which creates a distinction between the self and the other. A question, therefore, is an expression of this separation, where the questioner seeks knowledge about a subject they perceive as distinct from themselves. This drive to know and rise is inherent to human consciousness but absent in animals. Nature has designed animals in a way that their sense of self does not seek higher understanding or liberation. While an animal might experience superficial dissatisfaction, such as being tied up or deprived of food, they do not grapple with the mysteries of life. A human is fundamentally a dissatisfied animal, whereas all other animals are content. A human remains in a state of profound dissatisfaction, regardless of external achievements like status or wealth, until they understand the secrets of life. No animal wonders about its own existence, its origin, or its destiny. These existential questions are unique to humans. If these questions are not answered satisfactorily, a person's life can be spent in restlessness and intoxication. Intoxication becomes a means to escape the torment of unanswered questions by numbing the questioning mind. Therefore, a human who lacks curiosity is not truly human. The one whose consciousness is not in a constant state of commotion, not eager to know, and not attracted to the unknown, cannot be considered fully human.
