Acharya Prashant explains that human beings are the only species that need to be born twice: first, in a biological sense, and second, more importantly, in a psychological sense. While other animals only require their single biological birth, a human baby must undergo a second birth to be rightfully called a human being. The first birth is the animal birth from the mother's womb, not fundamentally different from that of any other species. The second, more significant birth is the psychological one, the emergence of the psychic human. This is where the role of education becomes crucial. The primary function of education and schools is to facilitate this all-important second birth. Without it, a person remains merely a biological creature, not very different from an animal. A human is born as a product of millions of years of evolution, carrying the imprints, residues, and conditioning of this entire history. This biological baggage includes instincts like ignorance, greed, envy, lust, and fear. The speaker points out the paradox of being human: the very thing that gives us life also prevents us from truly living. If not addressed, these powerful inner forces will cause a person to waste their life, tossed about by their biological nature. The purpose of education is to liberate the child from this biological burden. This involves clearing, channeling, or mastering these inherent conditionings, without which one remains enslaved by them. Education should provide knowledge, skills, and training that lead to inner liberation. However, knowledge itself does not automatically liberate. For knowledge to be liberating, one must first be taught the value of liberation, which can only be appreciated after seeing the fact of one's own bondage. Therefore, education must first bring the child face-to-face with the realities of their own self and the world. The 'why' of learning is paramount. When a teacher understands and conveys this 'why,' the student can engage with the teaching honestly. Without this understanding, knowledge becomes a burden, merely decorating the 'biological prison' instead of freeing the individual from it. The pre-existing biological shape must be deconstructed to allow for new, free, and beautiful forms to emerge. This creation happens through the negation of the old. This is why a human child needs schoolingânot just to be born, but to be educated into becoming a true human being.
