Acharya Prashant explains that the process of knowledge transfer inevitably involves the transfer of a self-image and identity. Using the example of a biology textbook, he notes that while no teacher explicitly says 'you are the body,' the heavy emphasis on human anatomy implicitly teaches the student to identify with the physical form. Similarly, geography lessons often focus on one's own country, such as India, which subtly instills a sense of national identity and division. This conditioning is unavoidable because curriculum designers choose what knowledge to provide based on their own ideologies, religions, and patriotic leanings. He further discusses how social education and textbooks can be used to deliberately indoctrinate children, sometimes even being 'laced with poison' to foster hatred or specific gender roles. For instance, a simple pictorial representation of a mother cooking in a primary book conveys a message about gender expectations beyond just teaching the alphabet. While it is essential to minimize ideological baggage in education, Acharya Prashant asserts that conditioning can never be reduced to zero because all knowledge is delivered through the limited human mind. He concludes that while formal education in science and technology is vital and deserves respect, one must remain aware that all such knowledge inevitably creates a false center or self-image.
