{"id":184,"date":"2016-04-13T11:13:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T11:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogakalyana.com\/eng\/?p=184"},"modified":"2020-03-02T20:44:43","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T20:44:43","slug":"the-religion-and-the-dharma-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yogakalyana.com\/eng\/2016\/04\/13\/the-religion-and-the-dharma-part-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"The Religion and the Dharma – Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cThe Dharma\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Word the \u201cDharma\u201d has its Sanskrit root, \u201cDhri\u201d, meaning: To hold, to sustain. Question is: What should be interpreted by the \u201cThe Dharma\u201d? Sanskrit scholars and Enlightened souls experienced two meaning:<\/p>\n

(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: \u201cThe Dharma\u201d 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 \u201cNature\u201d for \u201cThe Dharma\u201d.<\/p>\n

(ii) Dharma is that which holds everything of this Cosmos: This is higher stage of interpretation of the world \u201cThe Dharma\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n

Observe the two stages:<\/p>\n

Stage (i): Grower holding dharma by performing certain duties.<\/p>\n

Stage (ii): Dharma holds grower by giving him\/her fruits in return.<\/p>\n

So, essentially, we have to hold dharma first, and then we are looked and cared after by \u201cThe Dharma\u201d. This is the simplest interpretation of \u201cThe Dharma\u201d.<\/p>\n

Again note: As a result of following \u201cThe Dharma\u201d, 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 \u201cNature\u201d. They are enjoined to strictly perform them. Then only, in return, \u201cThe Dharma\u201d holds the doer, be it animate or inanimate thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dharma\u201d 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:<\/p>\n

(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)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Now pertinent question is: what to do to reach to perfect state of dharma?<\/p>\n

Here we have to understand that \u201cThe Dharma\u201d 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 \u201cNature\u201d, 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 \u201cPlace, Time, Circumstances (Situations)\u201d. That\u2019s why this dharma is very rightly addressed as \u201cSanatan Dharma\u201d. Sanskrit word Sanatan means: Without any beginning or end.<\/p>\n

The core principle of \u201cSanatan Dharma\u201d is:<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery 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 \u201cSanatan Dharma\u201d for a human being is to realize his\/her true identity, to know the \u201cAbsolute Truth\u201d.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n