Acharya Prashant explains that the four yugas—Satayug, Treta, Dvapar, and Kali—are traditionally misunderstood as external, historical periods of time or chronological spans on a calendar. He clarifies that according to Vedanta, time is not an objective entity existing outside of oneself; rather, time is synonymous with the mind because the self is changeless. Therefore, the four yugas represent different states of mind based on their proximity to the truth. Satayug occurs when the mind is totally centered in the self or truth. Treta signifies a mind identified with thoughts, Dvapar represents identification with the body, and Kaliyuga occurs when the mind is centered in the world. He emphasizes that these states are not fixed historical eras but are accessible in the present moment; one can live in Satayug by leading a truth-centered life or slip into Kaliyuga by living a world-centered life.
