The Religion and the Dharma – Part III

“The Dharma”

Word the “Dharma” has its Sanskrit root, “Dhri”, meaning: To hold, to sustain. Question is: What should be interpreted by the “The Dharma”? Sanskrit scholars and Enlightened souls experienced two meaning:

(i) Dharma is that which everything of this Cosmos must hold: Observe, the interpretation is not confined to humans only. It encompasses whole Cosmos. For example fire: “The Dharma” of fire is to burn anything that comes in its contact. If it does not burn then fire is not performing its dharma. Likewise water must cool the things in contact. That way animate to inanimate, all things have their own well-prescribed dharma. Sometime we, alternatively, use the word “Nature” for “The Dharma”.

(ii) Dharma is that which holds everything of this Cosmos: This is higher stage of interpretation of the world “The Dharma”. This interpretation follows the (i) above. Once no. (i) is practiced fully, then (ii) comes into picture, as a result of (i). For example: If one puts a seed of any fruit, then dharma forces the person to serve the seed with proper soil, water, manure, proper care etc. This has to do till tree gets its full growth. Until now one was performing his/her dharma in form of duties. Now starts the dharma of the tree to give flowers and fruits to grower. This way, the grower in return gets the fruits and flowers as a return from dharma for the dharma he/she performed.

Observe the two stages:

Stage (i): Grower holding dharma by performing certain duties.

Stage (ii): Dharma holds grower by giving him/her fruits in return.

So, essentially, we have to hold dharma first, and then we are looked and cared after by “The Dharma”. This is the simplest interpretation of “The Dharma”.

Again note: As a result of following “The Dharma”, never expect a favorable or pleasurable result always. For example: If someone puts his/her feet on a poisonous snake, it is dharma of snake to bite and give out venom. That person may die, but snake has performed its dharma. That everything, right from a rock to evolved human being has their dharma as assigned by “Nature”. They are enjoined to strictly perform them. Then only, in return, “The Dharma” holds the doer, be it animate or inanimate thing.

“The Dharma” of Human Beings: Humans are assigned some exclusive dharma to perform. They are in form of some rules, regulation and code of conduct. Enlightened souls observed that, if a human being performs his/her dharma honestly, following ten qualities shall appear in him/her:

(1) Dhriti (Patience) (2) Chhama (Forgiveness) (3) Dam (Suppression of Lust and Desires) (4) Asteya (Non-Stealing) (5) Indriya Nigrah (Control of senses) (6) Dhi (Evolved intellect) (7) Vidya (Non-illusory Knowledge) (8) Saty (Truthfulness) (9) Sauch (Satisfaction) (10) Akrodh (Absence of Anger)

So, by observing the appearance of above qualities in an individual person, one can find out whatever the person is performing his/her dharma or not.

Now pertinent question is: what to do to reach to perfect state of dharma?

Here we have to understand that “The Dharma” is not a philosophy, come out of some intellectual exercises of some realized soul. Nor it is based on some rituals or dogma. These are assigned to each component of Cosmos, by the “Nature”, the moment they come into existence. So they are eternal. They come with Nature and will disappear only with Nature. The mode of practice of dharma is same for whole mankind. They are not based on color, creed, race, cast, language etc. etc. etc. These practices are independent of “Place, Time, Circumstances (Situations)”. That’s why this dharma is very rightly addressed as “Sanatan Dharma”. Sanskrit word Sanatan means: Without any beginning or end.

The core principle of “Sanatan Dharma” is:

“Every human being must strive to realize his/her nature. To evolve for this purpose, whatever practices are required and have to be done is his/her dharma. So “Sanatan Dharma” for a human being is to realize his/her true identity, to know the “Absolute Truth”.

So all human are enjoined with the directive to evolve, to reach to the truth. This directive speaks of no philosophy, no rituals, no dogmas, no symbols, etc. To achieve this goal, various paths were researched. And finally four paths were found:

• Path of Karma – (Karma Yoga): To reach the path by action.
• Path of Knowledge – (Gyan Yoga): By intellectual inquiry and discrimination goal is achieved.
• Path of Devotion – (Bhakti Yoga): By emotionally connecting to the Ultimate Truth.
• Path of Mind Control – (Raj Yoga): By directly working in the finer world through finer body.

Yoga, in above, means Union, Union with the Ultimate Truth.

So, “Sanatan Dharma” or simply “The Dharma” is meant for whole mankind.

Conclusions: On the basis of discussions done so far, following conclusions can be made:

• On “Absolute” basis, both “Religion” and “Dharma” strive for same goal, that is, to reach to the “Absolute Truth” through evolution. In other words to reach to “Self Realization”.
• Unfortunately in modern times, the spiritual part is getting less importance than the external rituals, dogmas and philosophical concepts. So the word “Religion” is getting identified with these external part only. This is the main cause of all religious conflicts. Need is to restore the “Religion” in its purest form, making it free from any communal bias.
• Internally evolved humans should come forward in every sphere of society all over world. Only such persons of deep insight and vision can guide society in right direction. Religion must be made free from the clutches of unenlightened souls.

Let us hope the “Almighty” will bless the mankind to succeed on this path of “Religion and Dharma”

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Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash