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Dharma is the foundation for the
welfare of humanity; it is the Truth that is stable for all time. God
is the embodiment of Dharma; His Grace is won by Dharma; He is ever
fostering Dharma; He is ever establishing Dharma. He is Dharma itself.
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Dharma is a body of principles that
are fundamental to social stability and individual progress. "Dharma
Moolam Idam Jagath". Dharma is the root of this world. Obey it
and you are happy. One common definition of Dharma is that it is the
adherence to the rule: 'Do unto others what you wish them to do unto
you. Do not have a double standard. Treat all as your own self'. |
The basic principles of Dharma are
Sathya (Truth), Prema (Love), Sahana (Fortitude) and Ahimsa (Nonviolence).
"Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithah" - Dharma protects those that
protect Dharma. Dharma means certain obligations and duties and regulations
over actions, words and behavior. For example, elders have certain obligations
towards younger people and vice versa; neighbors have mutual duties
and rights. |
The task of everyone is to do the
duty that has come upon him, with a full sense of responsibility to
the utmost of his capacity. There should be complete coordination between
what one feels, says and does. Then work becomes worship. |
How are you to decide in any particular
case what is Dharma and what is not? That which does not inflict pain
on you and others - that is Dharma. This follows from the recognition
that same God resides in everyone and if you injure another, you are
hurting the same God who is in you. Dharma enables you to come to the
recognition that anything that is bad for another is also bad for you.
So act in such a way that you get joy and others too get joy. Or take
another standard for your actions: Make the mind, the speech and body
agree in harmony. Act as you speak, speak as you feel, do not play false
to your conscience. That is the Dharmic way of life. |
Dharma trains you to be calm, level
headed, secure in equanimity. You know the transitory nature of success
or failure, riches or poverty, joy or grief. You are not elated or deflated.
You are serene, unmoved. Anything that helps you to maintain this unruffled
stability is Dharma. To summarize: sensual life is Adharma; the spiritual
life is Dharma. |
Dharma is not a matter of time and
space to be modified and adjusted to the needs and pressures of the
moment. It means a number of fundamental principles that should guide
mankind in its progress towards inner harmony and outer peace. When
man stays away from Dharma, he meets with greater harm than even physical
slavery. These principles are called Sanathana because their origins
are not dated, their author is not identifiable; they are the revelations
made in the clarified intellects of impartial sages. They are basic
and eternal. |
Dharma is the eternal source. Dharma
is a great virtue. Dharma is the basis for everything. In this world
nothing is higher than righteousness. Man must follow the path of Dharma,
to know himself, to discard demonic qualities, to foster human qualities,
to develop divine qualities and to achieve a good life. |
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