Understanding Dharma

Understanding Dharma

Hindu Basics:

Source of the word ‘Hindu’? Sindhu? Indu Mahasagar? Him-Dhu?Sindhu? Indu Mahasagar? Him-Dhu?

What is Hinduism?What is Hinduism?

The term was used by the Christian missionaries. To them it was a strange tribalism and because

Christianity was the only ‘religion’ to them, any other ideas had to be an ‘ism’ so the called it Hindu-ism.

Other names?Other names?

Sanatana Dharma, Vedic Dharma, Brahminism or Brahminical Dharma or Just DharmaDharma

Understanding DharmaHindu Basics

For thousands of years of experimentation in all possible fields of human domain are being done by the people of Bharat (indian

subcontinent).

Bharat has a heritage that has developed a great spiritual culture, great traditions, unmatched artistic achievements, and

grand social, economic, political, health and educational systems from which all

nations have learned.


Hindu Basics

Hindu history is written with immense contribution to the world in the field of science, math, language and a glorious history of heroic valor without attacking

others. But the most important is its knowledge of the Self and the universe in

its Vedic and Vedantic treasure houses. All of these are part of what is called

Hinduism


Hindu BasicsHow the universe, a society, a system or a being is sustained depends upon certain

principles and laws. The eternal and unchanging rules of being, becoming and

sustaining, the order that holds things together is literally Sanatana (eternal)

Dharma (sustaining principles).


Dharma: DharmaDharma is a Sanskrit term, which literally is a Sanskrit term, which literally

means ‘means ‘that which holds togetherthat which holds together’ or ‘’ or ‘sustains sustains the natural order of thingsthe natural order of things’.’.

It refers to the universal It refers to the universal principlesprinciples and and lawslaws, , dutiesduties and and righteousnessrighteousness, which bring about , which bring about

peace, harmony and progress.peace, harmony and progress.According to Dharma, religion is one of According to Dharma, religion is one of

innumerable possible paths towards innumerable possible paths towards individual aspirationsindividual aspirations

It includes It includes morality, ethics & justicemorality, ethics & justice


Dharma:

"Dharmo hi paramo loke Dharme satyam "Dharmo hi paramo loke Dharme satyam pratisthitam”pratisthitam”

Dharma is supreme in the world, and truth is Dharma is supreme in the world, and truth is based on Dharma – The Ramayanabased on Dharma – The Ramayana

““Dharma is that through which Dharma is that through which abhyudayaaabhyudayaa (welfare & prosperity) and (welfare & prosperity) and NihsreyasaNihsreyasa

(Spiritual Greatness) are(Spiritual Greatness) are

attained."attained." - Vaisheshika Sutra- Vaisheshika Sutra


Dharma:

'Yatha Dharma tatha jaya' - Mahabharat: 'Yatha Dharma tatha jaya' - Mahabharat: Literal meaning is "Victory Is There, Where Literal meaning is "Victory Is There, Where

Dharma Is'.. we can modernize and say: Dharma Is'.. we can modernize and say: 'Dharma or righteous actions in tune to the 'Dharma or righteous actions in tune to the

truth brings success and victory'. 'truth brings success and victory'. 'jayajaya' ' means victory, glory, success etc.means victory, glory, success etc.


Dharma:

Stephen Covey (Author of the international Stephen Covey (Author of the international best selling book: The 7 habits of highly best selling book: The 7 habits of highly

effective people): '...principles that govern effective people): '...principles that govern human growth and happiness - natural laws..'human growth and happiness - natural laws..'


Dharma:

'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah': literal meaning ': literal meaning is ‘dharma protects the protector of Dharma’. is ‘dharma protects the protector of Dharma’. We can also say: 'One who follows the path of We can also say: 'One who follows the path of

Dharma will always be Dharma will always be sustained/safeguarded.'sustained/safeguarded.'


Dharma:

Slogan ideas: Slogan ideas:

'What is your Dharma now/today/this 'What is your Dharma now/today/this moment?' moment?'

'Understand Dharma - Find your path' 'Understand Dharma - Find your path'


Dharma:

""Dharanat dharmam ityahu dharmo dharayate Dharanat dharmam ityahu dharmo dharayate praajah Yah svadharansamyuktah sa Dharma praajah Yah svadharansamyuktah sa Dharma

iti nischayah."iti nischayah."

The word Dharma is derived from The word Dharma is derived from dharanadharana or or sustenance; Dharma sustains society; that sustenance; Dharma sustains society; that

which has capacity to sustain, is indeed which has capacity to sustain, is indeed Dharma. Dharma.

-Mahabharat, Karnaparva, 69,59. -Mahabharat, Karnaparva, 69,59.


Dharma:

"Dharmadartha prabhavate Dharmat "Dharmadartha prabhavate Dharmat prabhavate sukham Dharmena labhate savam prabhavate sukham Dharmena labhate savam

Dharmasaramidam jagaat.”Dharmasaramidam jagaat.”

From Dharma arises wealth, Dharma is the From Dharma arises wealth, Dharma is the source of happiness, through Dharma we source of happiness, through Dharma we

attain everything, Dharma is the essence of attain everything, Dharma is the essence of the world. " - Ramayana (III.9.30)the world. " - Ramayana (III.9.30)

Understanding DharmaDharma:

""Vatthu Sahavo DhammoVatthu Sahavo Dhammo""Dharma is nothing but the real nature of an Dharma is nothing but the real nature of an object. Just as the nature of fire is to burn object. Just as the nature of fire is to burn

and the nature of water is to produce a and the nature of water is to produce a cooling effect, in the same manner, the cooling effect, in the same manner, the

essential nature of the soul is to seek self-essential nature of the soul is to seek self-realization and spiritual elevation. - realization and spiritual elevation. -

Mahavir Swami, Jain TirthankarMahavir Swami, Jain Tirthankar


Dharma:

““Taji sabh bharam bhajio paarbrahm. Taji sabh bharam bhajio paarbrahm. Kahu Kahu Nanak attal ih Dharma”Nanak attal ih Dharma”

Renounce all your doubts, and ponder upon Renounce all your doubts, and ponder upon the Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this is the the Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this is the eternal Dharma -eternal Dharma - Guru Nanak, founder of Guru Nanak, founder of

Sikh DharmaSikh Dharma


Dharma:Dharma:

Taoism:Taoism: Tao is an emblem, meaning order, Tao is an emblem, meaning order, the whole, responsibility, efficiency. It is the the whole, responsibility, efficiency. It is the Responsible Efficient, Total Order, creations Responsible Efficient, Total Order, creations as a whole, the whole of what is, multiplicity.. as a whole, the whole of what is, multiplicity.. this is from a web-site, not anybody's quote, this is from a web-site, not anybody's quote, yet very close to the definition of Dharma. yet very close to the definition of Dharma.


Dharma as virtues: Dharma as virtues:

“Dhritih kshama damosteyang shouca,indriyanigrahah

Dhirvidya satyamakrodho dashakam Dharmalaksananam.” -Manusmriti

Fortitude, forbearance, self restraint, non-stealing, purity, control of senses,

discrimination (good and bad), wisdom, truthfulness and sense of anger are the ten

characteristics of Dharma


Dharma: Dharma as virtues

Ahimsa satyamakrodho danaametat caturbidham

Ajatoshatro sevasva esa Dharma sanatana. :Same as previous(Manusmriti) with the 11th

virtue Ahimsa added. - Mahabharat


““DhammaDhamma means (a) the state of nature means (a) the state of nature as it is, (b) the laws of nature, (c) the as it is, (b) the laws of nature, (c) the

duties that must be performed in duties that must be performed in accordance with the laws of nature, and accordance with the laws of nature, and (d) the results that are derived from the (d) the results that are derived from the fulfillment of such duties.”fulfillment of such duties.”

- Buddhadasa - Buddhadasa


"Twofold is the Vedic Dharma: Of the nature "Twofold is the Vedic Dharma: Of the nature of advancement in the world of action and of advancement in the world of action and

achievement (achievement (pravrttilaksanapravrttilaksana) and withdrawal ) and withdrawal or turning inward into the world of Spirit and or turning inward into the world of Spirit and Freedom (Freedom (Nivrtti-laksanaNivrtti-laksana), both of which are ), both of which are

the necessary means and counterparts of the the necessary means and counterparts of the world, leading directly to the attainment of world, leading directly to the attainment of secular welfare and prosperity (secular welfare and prosperity (abhyudayaabhyudaya) )

and Spiritual Good (and Spiritual Good (nihsreyasanihsreyasa) of all beings." ) of all beings."

- Acharya Sankara (Introduction to his - Acharya Sankara (Introduction to his commentary on Geeta).commentary on Geeta).


Dharma:

"Religion (Dharma) has made man what he is, and will make of this human animal a God. That is what religion can do. Take religion from human society and what will remain? Nothing but a forest of brutes." - Swami

Vivekananda.

Note: Vivekananda used the word ‘Dharma’ and was later translated to ‘religion’.


Dharma:

"...is the manifestation of divinity already in man. It is being and becoming, not hearing and acknowledging." - Swami Vivekananda.

DHARMA <=> Sustenance, growth, evolution – DHARMA <=> Sustenance, growth, evolution – progress!progress!


Uniqueness:

The knowledge and systems are not based on ‘beliefs’ but through experiments and

experiences over thousands of years.

It is super-scientific

Modern science relies only on physical and sensory evidences.

Dharma is based on physical, emotional, intellectual and intuitive experiences and

needs.

Understanding Dharma

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