Acharya Prashant explains that the term 'Sanatan' refers to that which is beyond the limits of time, that which is not affected by time. Everything within the mind and the world is a product of time, having a beginning and an end. Therefore, nothing in the world, including thoughts, emotions, forms, and traditions, can be considered 'Sanatan' as they are all mortal ('maran-dharma'). The goal of Sanatan Dharma is to lead one beyond this mortal realm. The speaker clarifies that 'Sanatan' is synonymous with 'Satya' (Truth) and the 'Atma' (the Self). By definition, the Truth is eternal ('Nitya'), meaning it was never born and will never die. It is not an object of thought or experience. 'Sanatan' is the Self, and 'Sanatan Dharma' is the path of leading the mind towards the Self. He cautions against mistaking anything else for 'Sanatan,' such as ideologies, sects, or rituals, as this would mean being led towards a mortal point instead of the eternal Truth. Acharya Prashant further elaborates that figures like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, and Shiv are considered 'Sanatan' only when understood in their purest, formless, and attributeless sense as names for the Self, not as mythological figures with forms and stories. He quotes Kabir Saheb and Gorakhnath to illustrate the concept of 'dying while living'—transcending the mortal self to realize the eternal. The fundamental purpose of religion ('Dharma') is to attain freedom from the inherent suffering of mortal existence. This is achieved by understanding that the world is a reflection of the observer's consciousness. Therefore, the path of spirituality is the path of understanding the self, which leads to liberation.