Acharya Prashant explains that the mind naturally functions by seeking to repeat pleasant experiences and avoiding unpleasant ones from the past. This mechanism is inherent in all conscious beings, including animals and plants, and is essential for survival. He uses the example of a person being chased by a rabid dog to illustrate that storing such memories is beneficial because it prepares an individual for future dangers. Without the past, humans would lack language, science, technology, and the basic knowledge required for daily living.