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Understanding Dharma

Hindu Basics:

Source of the word Hindu?

Sindhu? Indu Mahasagar? HimSindhu? Indu Mahasagar? Him--Dhu?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


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Hindu Basics

For thousands of years of experimentationin all possible fields of human domain arebeing done by the people of Bharat (indian

subcontinent).

Bharat has a heritage that has developed agreat spiritual culture, great traditions,

unmatched artistic achievements, andgrand social, economic, political, healthand educational systems from which all

nations have learned.


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Hindu BasicsHindu history is written with immense

contribution to the world in the field of

science, math, language and a glorioushistory of heroic valor without attacking

others. But the most important is its

knowledge of the Self and the universe in

its Vedicand Vedantictreasure houses. All

of these are part of what is called

Hinduism


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Hindu BasicsHow the universe, a society, a system or a

being is sustained depends upon certain

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

sustaining, the order that holds things

together is literally Sanatana (eternal)

Dharma (sustaining principles).


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

means means that which holds togetherthat which holds together or or sustainssustainsthe natural order of thingsthe natural order of things..

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

peace, harmony and progress.peace, harmony and progress.

According to Dharma, religion is one ofAccording to Dharma, religion is one ofinnumerable possible paths towardsinnumerable possible paths towardsindividual aspirationsindividual aspirations

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


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Dharma:"Dharmo hi paramo loke Dharme satyam"Dharmo hi paramo loke Dharme satyam

pratisthitampratisthitam

Dharma is supreme in the world, and truth isDharma is supreme in the world, and truth isbased on Dharmabased on Dharma The RamayanaThe Ramayana

Dharma is that through whichDharma is that through which abhyudayaaabhyudayaa

(welfare & prosperity) and(welfare & prosperity) and NihsreyasaNihsreyasa(Spiritual Greatness) are(Spiritual Greatness) are

attained."attained." -- Vaisheshika SutraVaisheshika Sutra


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Dharma:'Yatha Dharma tatha jaya''Yatha Dharma tatha jaya' -- Mahabharat:Mahabharat:

Literal meaning is "Victory Is There, WhereLiteral 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.


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Dharma:

Stephen Covey (Author of the internationalStephen Covey (Author of the international

best selling book: The 7 habits of highlybest selling book: The 7 habits of highlyeffective people): '...principles that governeffective people): '...principles that govern

human growth and happinesshuman growth and happiness -- natural laws..'natural laws..'


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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 ofWe can also say: 'One who follows the path of

Dharma will always beDharma will always be

sustained/safeguarded.'sustained/safeguarded.'


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Dharma:Slogan ideas:Slogan ideas:

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

moment?'moment?'

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


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Dharma:""Dharanat dharmam ityahu dharmo dharayateDharanat dharmam ityahu dharmo dharayate

praajah Yah svadharansamyuktah sa Dharmapraajah Yah svadharansamyuktah sa Dharma

iti nisch

ayah.

"iti nisch

ayah.

"The word Dharma is derived fromThe word Dharma is derived from dharanadharana oror

sustenance; Dharma sustains society; thatsustenance; Dharma sustains society; that

which has capacity to sustain, is indeedwhich has capacity to sustain, is indeed

Dharma.Dharma.

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


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Dharma:"Dharmadartha prabhavate Dharmat"Dharmadartha prabhavate Dharmat

prabhavate sukham Dharmena labhate savamprabhavate sukham Dharmena labhate savam

Dharmasaramidam jagaat

.

Dharmasaramidam jagaat

.

From Dharma arises wealth, Dharma is theFrom Dharma arises wealth, Dharma is the

source of happiness, through Dharma wesource of happiness, through Dharma we

attain everything, Dharma is the essence ofattain everything, Dharma is the essence of

the world. "the world. " -- Ramayana (III.9.30)Ramayana (III.9.30)


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Dharma:

""Vatthu Sahavo DhammoVatthu Sahavo Dhammo""

Dharma is nothing but the real nature of anDharma is nothing but the real nature of anobject. Just as the nature of fire is to burnobject. Just as the nature of fire is to burn

and the nature of water is to produce aand the nature of water is to produce acooling effect, in the same manner, thecooling effect, in the same manner, the

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

Mahavir Swami, Jain TirthankarMahavir Swami, Jain Tirthankar


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Dharma:

Taji sabh bharam bhajio paarbrahm.Taji sabh bharam bhajio paarbrahm. KahuKahuNanak attal ihDharmaNanak attal ihDharma

Renounce all your doubts, and ponder uponRenounce all your doubts, and ponder uponthe Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this is thethe Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this is theeternalDharmaeternalDharma --Guru Nanak, founder ofGuru Nanak, founder of

Sikh DharmaSikh Dharma


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Dharma:Dharma:Taoism:Taoism: Tao is an emblem, meaning order,Tao is an emblem, meaning order,

the whole, responsibility, efficiency. It is thethe whole, responsibility, efficiency. It is the

Responsible Efficient, Total Order, creationsResponsible Efficient, Total Order, creationsas a whole, the whole of what is, multiplicity..as a whole, the whole of what is, multiplicity..

this is from a webthis is from a web--site, not anybody's quote,site, not anybody's quote,

yet very close to the definition of Dharma.yet very close to the definition of Dharma.


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Dharma as virtues:Dharma as virtues:

Dhritih kshama damosteyangshouca,indriyanigrahah

Dhirvidya satyamakrodho dashakamDharmalaksananam. -Manusmriti

Fortitude, forbearance, self restraint, non-

stealing, purity, control of senses,discrimination (good and bad), wisdom,

truthfulness and sense of anger are the tencharacteristics of Dharma


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Dharma:Dharma as virtues

Ahimsa satyamakrodho danaametat

caturbidhamAjatoshatro sevasva esa Dharma sanatana.

:Same as previous(Manusmriti) with the 11th

virtue Ahimsa added.- Mahabharat


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Dharma:

DhammaDhamma means (a) the state of naturemeans (a) the state of natureas it is, (b) the laws of nature, (c) theas it is, (b) the laws of nature, (c) the

duties that must be performed induties that must be performed inaccordance with the laws of nature, andaccordance 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.-- BuddhadasaBuddhadasa


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Dharma:

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

achievement (achievement (pravrttilaksanapravrttilaksana) and withdrawal) and withdrawal

or turning inward into the world of Spirit andor turning inward into the world of Spirit andFreedom (Freedom (NivrttiNivrtti--laksanalaksana), both of which are), both of which are

the necessary means and counterparts of thethe necessary means and counterparts of the

world, leading directly to the attainment ofworld, 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 hisAcharya Sankara (Introduction to his

commentary on Geeta).commentary on Geeta).


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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 religionfrom human society and what will remain?

Nothing but a forest of brutes." - Swami

Vivekananda.

Note: Vivekananda used the word Dharma andwas later translated to religion.


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Dharma:

"...is the manifestation of divinity already in

man. It is being and becoming, not hearingand acknowledging." - Swami Vivekananda.

DHARMA Sustenance, growth, evolutionDHARMA Sustenance, growth, evolution progress!progress!


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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.

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