Dharma....

[Guest guest]

Dear List members.

 

The following very interesting email came to us from

Canadian University. I would like the list members to

respond. The answer may be of interest to many more

list members hence requesting that you respond via the list.

 

jay

 

========copy of email received===========

 

hello. i am a university instructor of eastern religions, and yesterday

a student asked me a question that i could not adequately answer. i was

introducing very basic concepts in the upanishads, including the idea of

performance of one's dharma as a means to moksha, in other words the

kind of self-less action that does not generate karma. i explained

within the context of catuvarna that if one is a brahmin, one must

perform the duties appropriate to the brahmin, etc and so on for the

other varnas. a student asked me "what about on an everyday basis, how

does one know one's proper dharma in reaction to the myriad small events

of a day?" So just on a very general mundane level, how does the hindu

make choices such as what school to attend, what charities to donate to,

how to help a friend, etc. Are these issues that have anything to do

with one's dharma? and if so, would the appropriate action vary from

varna to varna? if you have the time, can you suggest an answer to this

question? thanks, cindy

 

"Cindy Crowhurst" <cgcrowhu

 

 

================

[Guest guest]

Discrimination, choosing the good over the pleasurable is one way to

obey dharma. Another is to do self inquiry or inquiry of God.

[Guest guest]

Jay - Greetings.

 

Interesting questions - here is my perspective on the subject.

 

dharma - First definition - that because of a thing is what it is and

without that the thing is not what it is. - this means it should be an

intrinsic quality of the object that distinguishes that object from the of

the objects in the universe. For example a sugar has to be sweet - or

sweetness is its dharma - if it looks like sugar but is sweet it cannot be

sugar. Hence sweetness makes sugar what it is and without that it cannot be

called sugar. Hence sweetness is its dharma.

 

Now let us apply dharma to each of us. I am what I am because of that and

without that I am not what I am - and whatever that is it is my basic dharma

- is it not? If one deeply analyzes this, one arrives at one hat one's atma

is what makes one as an individual a living entity without that I am just a

bundle of matter - the very life principle that enlivens the body is me -

hence when some body dies we say he is dead and gone - that means he is no

more living in that body and left. Hence I am that which is eternal - hence

it is called sanatana or timeless and Hinduism that emphasizes this aspect

as the essence of life principle is called sanatana dharma.

 

Let us now extend the definition. I consider myself - a student, a father,

a son, an employee, a teacher, a neighbor, a citizen, a human being etc.

 

My dharma in each of these cases depends on what I consider myself to be.

If I consider myself to be a student, it becomes my dharma to be what a true

student should be, since witout out that I cannot be a student even if I

call myself a student. To be a student I have to be studious. Hence it is

my dharma to study to the best I can. That becomes my dharma.

 

If I am a father, I have to be a the best father since fatheriness (if such

a word exists) is essence of my dharma. I have to be a good father with

love raise my children and give them values, education, culture and pass on

the values I cherish as a parent. Whether the children obsorb or follow is

not the point. I have to do my role as a father the absolutely the best.

That is my dharma.

 

If I a son, then being a good son is my dharma. I can play all the roles

properly both being a good father to my children good son to my parents,

good neighbor to my neighbors, good citizen to my country, good human being

over all.

 

In terms of good human being - to be good - here is simple recipe to follow

what is my dharma or swardharma - I have to do what I expects others to do

for me - I should not do what I expects others not do for me. - for example

I want other not to hurt me, not to insult me, be kind to me, be able to

forgive and forget my mistakes, help me when I am in need, not lie to me,

not to steal my property, all the ten commandments etc. Hence these are my

dharma-s to be followed for others - that is true swadharma.

 

I am a employee I have to do what I am paid for.

 

These are my swadharma. Ultimately what I believe is right I have to follow

that is my swadharma -

 

application to caste system is only local and part of the system at that

time. But the concept is universal and applicable to all.

 

When I follow my dharma then the mind becomes free from agitation. There is

no internal conflict in the mind - what I have to follow and what I follow -

They are integrated. that is what yoga does - to integrate the personality

- what one thinks what one says and what one does - manasa vaacha karmana -

there is integrety or straightforwardness and that is what the essence of

following swadharma. the rest all application to individual cases.

 

This is in short what dharma means.

 

Hari Om!

 

Sadananda

 

 

>"Vivekananda Centre" advaitin "list" ,

>"Self Knowledge List" Dharma.... Fri, 18 May 2001

>23:33:48 +0100

>

>Dear List members.

>

>The following very interesting email came to us from Canadian University. I

>would like the list members to respond. The answer may be of interest to

>many more list members hence requesting that you respond via the list.

>

>jay

>

>========copy of email received===========

>

>hello. i am a university instructor of eastern religions, and yesterday a

>student asked me a question that i could not adequately answer. i was

>introducing very basic concepts in the upanishads, including the idea of

>performance of one's dharma as a means to moksha, in other words the kind

>of self-less action that does not generate karma. i explained within the

>context of catuvarna that if one is a brahmin, one must perform the duties

>appropriate to the brahmin, etc and so on for the other varnas. a student

>asked me "what about on an everyday basis, how does one know one's proper

>dharma in reaction to the myriad small events of a day?" So just on a very

>general mundane level, how does the hindu make choices such as what school

>to attend, what charities to donate to, how to help a friend, etc. Are

>these issues that have anything to do with one's dharma? and if so, would

>the appropriate action vary from varna to varna? if you have the time, can

>you suggest an answer to this question? thanks, cindy

>

>"Cindy Crowhurst" >

_______________

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[Guest guest]

On Sat, 19 May 2001, "Kuntimaddi Sadananda" wrote:

>

> This is in short what dharma means.

>

> Hari Om!

>

> Sadananda

>

 

Sir, can we summarise the concept *dharma* in advaitic perspective?? As per my

understanding goes according to advaita *realising ONE in all is dharma* (yeko

devah sarvabhutesh, sarva bhutantaratma) and seeing many in ONE is adharma (

identifying one's self with body, mind, intellect etc.etc.) Am I put it right??

Regards

Nilesh

>

>

> >"Vivekananda Centre" advaitin "list" ,

> >"Self Knowledge List" Dharma.... Fri, 18 May 2001

> >23:33:48 +0100

> >

> >Dear List members.

> >

> >The following very interesting email came to us from Canadian University. I

> >would like the list members to respond. The answer may be of interest to

> >many more list members hence requesting that you respond via the list.

> >

> >jay

> >

> >========copy of email received===========

> >

> >hello. i am a university instructor of eastern religions, and yesterday a

> >student asked me a question that i could not adequately answer. i was

> >introducing very basic concepts in the upanishads, including the idea of

> >performance of one's dharma as a means to moksha, in other words the kind

> >of self-less action that does not generate karma. i explained within the

> >context of catuvarna that if one is a brahmin, one must perform the duties

> >appropriate to the brahmin, etc and so on for the other varnas. a student

> >asked me "what about on an everyday basis, how does one know one's proper

> >dharma in reaction to the myriad small events of a day?" So just on a very

> >general mundane level, how does the hindu make choices such as what school

> >to attend, what charities to donate to, how to help a friend, etc. Are

> >these issues that have anything to do with one's dharma? and if so, would

> >the appropriate action vary from varna to varna? if you have the time, can

> >you suggest an answer to this question? thanks, cindy

> >

> >"Cindy Crowhurst" >

> _______________

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>

>

> Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman

and Brahman.

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[Guest guest]

>

>

>Sir, can we summarise the concept *dharma* in advaitic perspective??

>As per my understanding goes according to advaita *realising ONE in

>all is dharma* (yeko devah sarvabhutesh, sarva bhutantaratma) and

>seeing many in ONE is adharma ( identifying one's self with body,

>mind, intellect etc.etc.) Am I put it right??

>Regards

>Nilesh

> >

 

Shree Nileshji - That is the fundamentally is our dharma and all

pursuits in life ultimately zero in only towards that since it is our

intrinsic nature itself.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

--

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

The favorite verse in this context I like to recite from the

Gita; [14:27] -

 

brahmaNaH hi pratishhThaa aham amR^itasya avyayasya cha .

shaashvatasya cha dharmasya sukhasya ekaantikasya cha ..

 

"For I am the abode of Brahman, the Immortal and the Imperishable,

the Eternal Law, and absolute Bliss."

 

Regards,

 

s.

 

 

 

advaitin, "K. Sadananda" <sada@a...> wrote:

> >

> >

> >Sir, can we summarise the concept *dharma* in advaitic

perspective??

> >As per my understanding goes according to advaita *realising ONE

in

> >all is dharma* (yeko devah sarvabhutesh, sarva bhutantaratma) and

> >seeing many in ONE is adharma ( identifying one's self with body,

> >mind, intellect etc.etc.) Am I put it right??

> >Regards

> >Nilesh

> > >

>

> Shree Nileshji - That is the fundamentally is our dharma and all

> pursuits in life ultimately zero in only towards that since it is

our

> intrinsic nature itself.

>

> Hari Om!

> Sadananda

>

[Guest guest]

advaitin, sunderh wrote:

> Namaste,

>

> The favorite verse in this context I like to recite from the

> Gita; [14:27] -

>

> brahmaNaH hi pratishhThaa aham amR^itasya avyayasya cha .

> shaashvatasya cha dharmasya sukhasya ekaantikasya cha ..

>

> "For I am the abode of Brahman, the Immortal and the Imperishable,

> the Eternal Law, and absolute Bliss."

>

> Regards,

>

> s.

Another interesting definition of dharma that will instantly appeal

to aspirants pursuing the path of meditation is this quote (source:

http://www.jagadgurus.org)

================ quote =========================

The sage Yagnavalkya declares:

ayam tu paramo dharmo yadyogenaatmadarshanam

(Realisation of Atma by means of Yoga is indeed the highest dharma)

 

Realisation of Atma yields absolute freedom from the cycle of

transmigratory existence which is the final aim of Sanyasa.

============ quote ================================

 

In all fairness however, I don't believe we have answered the

instructor's original question on dharma yet..

 

regards

Sundar Rajan

[Guest guest]

Namaste.

 

Following are extracted from a booklet on `Dharma' by Swami

Harshananda of R.K.Mission.

>From the Introduction:

>From Mahabharata:- `dharma eva hato hanti dharmo raksati raksitah'

"It is dharma that destroys (us) when destroyed; it is dharma again

That protects (us) when protected by (us)".

 

`yato dharmastato jayah' – "where there is dharma, there

victory also is".

Consequently we are advised in poignant terms to accumulate

dharma in our lives :

`anityani sarirani vibhavo naiva sasvatah,

nityam sannihito mrtyuh kartavyo dharma-sangrahah'

"(Our) bodies are shortlived, wealth does not last long,

death is constantly knocking at our door;

(so)

accumulation of dharma is a must."

 

- - -

 

What is dharma ?

 

That which upholds this created universe, supports it and sustains it,

Without which the universe falls apart, is dharma. Viewed from this

Standpoint, dharma is none other than God Himself. It is what the

Upanishads describe as sat or tat, the very essence of one's being.

Whatever conduct or way of life helps us to reveal this fundamental

principle in us, can also be called dharma, though in a secondary

sense.

Hence religious rites, ceremonies and observances, fixed principles

of conduct, privileges, duties and obligations of a person upon one's

stage of life and status in society, even rules of law, customs, and

manners of society - - everyone of these can be included under the

term dharma.

 

The author describes more about dharma under the following titles:

- What is dharma

- Rta and satya

- Dharma as the foundation of the world

- Dharma as duties

- Dharma in the upanishads

- Dharma in the gita

- Dharma in the ramayana

- Dharma in the mahabharata

- Dharma in mimamsa and vaisesika systems

- Dharma in smrtis and dharmasastras

- Dharma, not a stagnant concept

- Sri Ramakrishna and dharma

 

With Love,

Raghava

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Another viewpoint may be expressed as: dharma is the inherent

nature of an entity [as Sadaji has emphasised]. The inherent nature

of Truth is sat - chit - aananda [existence - consciousness - bliss].

 

Any action [karma] that manifests or is recognised as

approaching the nature of Truth would be 'Dharma', and in the human

context is termed righteousness, virtue, law, etc.

 

 

Regards,

 

s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin, raghavakaluri wrote:

> Namaste.

>

> Following are extracted from a booklet on `Dharma' by Swami

> Harshananda of R.K.Mission.

>

> From the Introduction:

> From Mahabharata:- `dharma eva hato hanti dharmo raksati raksitah'

> "It is dharma that destroys (us) when destroyed; it is dharma again

> That protects (us) when protected by (us)".

>

> `yato dharmastato jayah' – "where there is dharma, there

> victory also is".

> Consequently we are advised in poignant terms to accumulate

> dharma in our lives :

> `anityani sarirani vibhavo naiva sasvatah,

> nityam sannihito mrtyuh kartavyo dharma-sangrahah'

> "(Our) bodies are shortlived, wealth does not last long,

> death is constantly knocking at our door;

> (so)

> accumulation of dharma is a must."

>

> - - -

>

> What is dharma ?

>

> That which upholds this created universe, supports it and sustains

it,

> Without which the universe falls apart, is dharma. Viewed from this

> Standpoint, dharma is none other than God Himself. It is what the

> Upanishads describe as sat or tat, the very essence of one's being.

> Whatever conduct or way of life helps us to reveal this fundamental

> principle in us, can also be called dharma, though in a secondary

> sense.

> Hence religious rites, ceremonies and observances, fixed principles

> of conduct, privileges, duties and obligations of a person upon

one's

> stage of life and status in society, even rules of law, customs, and

> manners of society - - everyone of these can be included under the

> term dharma.

[troyreid2]

to Mis Crowhurst

 

Always and Forever with none ever above you