Acharya Prashant explains that Dharma is not needed by animals, as they live according to their physical configuration given by nature and do not desire anything beyond it. Man, however, is different from all other creatures because he possesses the power of choice. Dharma is exclusively for humans, and it is the process of making the right choices. The right choice is one that brings peace, clarity, and elevation to one's consciousness. Man is uniquely curious and restless, and this inner state necessitates the practice of Dharma to find peace and clarity. The essence of Dharma is to make decisions that keep the consciousness healthy and lead to liberation from bondage. The speaker clarifies that Dharma is not about following external rules, rituals, or traditions. The ancient sages defined Dharma as that which should be adopted or held onto by the consciousness. This means one must consciously choose what is right. The criterion for a right choice is that which provides peace, clarity, and freedom. Conversely, a wrong choice leads to restlessness, confusion, and increased bondage. Man has the unfortunate freedom to make wrong choices, which can lead him to a state worse than that of an animal. Therefore, Dharma must be learned and practiced. Acharya Prashant points out that the purpose of Dharma is the liberation of the ego. The core of Dharma is the inquiry, "Who am I?" It is about the dissolution or completion of the ego, which is the deepest desire of consciousness. However, over time, the essence of Dharma has been lost, and what remains are often just stories, rituals, and traditions. People mistake these peripheral aspects for Dharma itself, leading to pride and conflict. The speaker uses the analogy of a bonfire: a religious person's life is like a torch in the darkness of ignorance, providing light and hope. But over time, the fire goes out, leaving only ash, which people then start to worship, forgetting the original flame. This is what has happened to most religions, which have become sources of foolishness and ignorance instead of goodness. Addressing the rise of atheism, Acharya Prashant suggests that many people become atheists because they reject the superstitions and irrational beliefs associated with organized religions. They are not necessarily irreligious; in fact, their questioning and search for truth can be a sign of a more awakened consciousness, which is the very heart of Dharma. The problem arises when, in rejecting the corrupt practices, they also discard the core philosophical truths, like the teachings of the Upanishads and the Gita. He cautions against this, using the phrase, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." The issue is not with Dharma itself, but with the layers of belief and tradition that have obscured its true meaning. The real concern is not about the number of followers a religion has, but about whether an individual is truly religious, which means being free from the ego and its associated suffering.