Analects of Swami Sivananda

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Chapter 8

Immortal Teachings

 

(i) The Blessed Law

(ii) O Man! Be Moral.

(iii) Be Virtuous, Be Bold

(iv) The Ideal of India

(v) Principles of Dharma

(vi) India's Message to Mankind 1

(vii) India's Message to Mankind 2

(viii) India's Message to Mankind 3

 

(i) The Blessed Law.

 

1. Sanata Dharma is the Eternal Law which knows no change. It is the

Mother of all Religions, of all moral codes.

2. Only by attuning oneself to this Eternal Law of the Divine Dharma,

you can attain lasting peace.

3. Adherence to Dharma or virtue is the sustaining root of hIndu culture.

4. Dharma is the stern law. It reveals right way to blessedness.

5. The practice of Dharma or the stern law needs discipline -- the

discipline of raising the self by the Self.

6. The essence of Dharma lies in refraining from doing with otehrs

what one would not do with oneself.

7. Srutis are contradictory. Sages differ in their views. The road to

Dharma is the one trodden by the great sages.

8. Dharma proceeds from Achara (right conduct)

9. Conduct counts, not birth.

10. Neither family, nor leaning, nor Vedic erudition, but the internal

nture alone determines the quality of a man.

11. Not by birth, but by his conduct alone does a man become a low

caste or a Brahmin.

12. A spiritual-m,inded Sudrda is equal to a Brahmin and a vicious

Brahmin is equal to a Sudra.

13. Wherever spiritual splendour abides, he is a Brahmin. wherever

thre is no spiritual splendour, he is a Sudra.

14. Neither parents, nor children, nor wife, nor kinsmen will stay by

you in the otehr world; Dharma or virtue alone will stand by you.

15. One comes to this world all alone and leaves the world all alone,

and alone does he reap the fruits of the good and evil deeds.

16. It is Dharma alone which accompanies a man to the other world.