Acharya Prashant responds to a question about the nature of Dharma, which the questioner introduces with a verse from the Hitopadesha stating that Dharma is the quality that distinguishes humans from animals. Acharya Prashant explains that Dharma means 'Dharana' or conviction. It is the one final conviction that liberates a person from all other convictions. He clarifies that the only truth is the Atma (the Self), while the 'I' or ego, along with the world, are two sides of the same illusory coin. This 'I' is fundamentally false and carries numerous convictions, such as seeking happiness through worldly attainments. Dharma is when the 'I' is left with only one conviction: "For me, there is only liberation, and joy is only in liberation." This is the ultimate conviction because liberation itself means the dissolution of the 'I', after which no entity remains to hold any other conviction. The wise sages described this as a path, not because liberation is a truth to be attained, but because it signifies the breaking of the dream of the ego. The ego is instructed to hold fast to the single idea, "I am in bondage and must be free." Upon liberation, even this conviction becomes unnecessary, and the individual transcends both Dharma (righteousness) and Adharma (unrighteousness). The treatment for the 'I' lies in knowing it; as the speaker puts it, "the diagnosis is the cure." The 'I' can be understood by observing its actions, thoughts, emotions, goals, and fears. These activities of the 'I', also known as Maya (illusion), become the very path to its liberation. The 'I' is not a fixed entity; it becomes whatever it identifies with. The spiritual journey involves a shift in identification—from seeing oneself as the body, to a dissatisfied consciousness, and ultimately to the realization of being the pure consciousness, or Atma. This realization, as expressed by sages like Ashtavakra and Shankaracharya, requires courage, love, and deep self-inquiry. The speaker describes the ego as a throbbing wound. One must have the sensitivity to acknowledge this inner pain, emptiness, and falsehood, as this suffering itself becomes the catalyst for liberation. Accepting the illness is the first step toward seeking a cure. Similarly, feelings like guilt are only productive if they prevent the repetition of a mistake. If guilt leads to prolonged wallowing, it is a deception. True guilt should immediately motivate a person to get back on the right path and compensate for the error.