The Eternal Rules Of Dharma

If this world were advaitic or monistic, there would be only one reality. But since it is not so, there is a need to discuss independence and dependence.

Change is intrinsic to reality; so every aspect of reality is changeable. Change occurs at every instant of time, which, in itself, is changeable. That which is bound by a certain cause and effect relationship, where change is inevitable, cannot be independent.

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Kalki Bhagawan: A sharing from a sevak Darshan with Kalki Bhagawan and Amma held at Nemam 2nd of January 2004. According to Kalki, the Golden Age will start in June 2004 and will be initated by the occuring Venus Transit.

Read more here: » Kalki: Darshan with Kalki Bhagawan and Amma, Nemam 2nd of January 2004.

 Dharma:

the law, duty, way of life

(See also:  Dharma , Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Dharma Dictionary

Dharma: The ultimate law, or doctrine, as taught by Buddha, which consists of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

(See also: Dharma , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

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Laws of Manu, Laws of Manava-dharma-sastra Also called the Manu-samhita; The Code of Manu (or Institutes of Manu).

Well-known archaic Hindu codes or institutes comprising maxims of various kinds, attributed to the first manu, known as Svayambhuva, who according to archaic records lived nearly 30 million years ago during the satya yuga of the race during which he appeared. One of the most important Smriti (unwritten traditional teachings).

The Laws of Manu is one of the main pillars of ancient Hindu law, and is held in the highest reverence. Tradition says that Manu wrote down the laws of Brahma in 100,000 slokas, which formed 24 books and a thousand chapters. He gave the work to Narada, one of the archaic sages, who abridged it for the use of mankind to 12,000 verses. Narada in his turn gave the Code to Sumati, a son of Bhrigu who for greater convenience reduced it to 4,000 verses.

The Laws of Manu is recognized as approaching the Vedas in age. It is not merely a law book in the European sense of being a mere code of legal enactments; the chief topics of its twelve extant books are

1)    cosmogony;

2)    the sources of the law, sacraments, initiation, discipleship;

3)    marriage and the duties of a householder or the second social order;

4)    means of subsistence, and private study and morals;

5)    diet, purification, and the duties of women;

6)    the duties of a recluse and ascetic, or the third and fourth social orders;

7)    government, and the duties of a king and the military caste;

8)    judicature and law, civil and criminal;

9)    duties of husband and wife, miscellaneous regulations concerning conduct and the duties of a king;

10) duties and occupations of the castes and mixed castes;

11) penances and expiations; and

12) metempsychosis and final liberation.

(See also: Laws of Manu, Laws of Manava-dharma-sastra , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

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Takuhatsu: The system that is used by Zen monks who are in training, to beg for their food. This is generally done in groups of ten to fifteen. The group goes through the street single-file, chanting "Ho" (meaning Dharma), and sympathizers come down and fill their alms bowls. This is the monks offering of the Dharma and their lives of guardians of the Dharma to the people. According to Zen tradition, the givers should be grateful (Reps & Senzaki, p. 48).

 (See also: Takuhatsu , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

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There are four principal kinds of dharma, as follows. They are known collectively as - chaturdharma: "four religious laws."

1. rita: "Universal law." The inherent order of the cosmos. The laws of being and nature that contain and govern all forms, functions and processes, from galaxy clusters to the power of mental thought and perception.
2. varna dharma: (Sanskrit) "Law of one's kind." Social duty. Varna can mean "race, tribe, appearance, character, color, social standing, etc." Varna dharma defines the individual's obligations and responsibilities within the nation, society, community, class, occupational subgroup and family. An important part of this dharma is religious and moral law. See: jati, varna dharma.
3. ashrama dharma: "Duties of life's stages." Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life- brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire)- in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure) and moksha (liberation). See: ashrama dharma.
4. svadharma: "Personal path, pattern or obligation." One's perfect individual pattern through life, according to one's own particular physical, mental and emotional nature. Svadharma is determined by the sum of past karmas and the cumulative effect of the other three dharmas. It is the individualized application of dharma, dependent on personal karma, reflected on one's race, community, physical characteristics, health, intelligence, skills and aptitudes, desires and tendencies, religion, sampradaya, family and guru.

(See also: Chaturdharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Dharma Dictionary

No religion preaches violence. If all religions advocate peace, why then do some who profess allegiance to their religion, commit violence to defend their peace-loving, peace-preaching faith? India is home to some of the oldest religious texts known to man. The Vedas and the Upanishads , for instance, do not preach a particular religion, nor do they spell out a list of dos and don’ts.

The Rig Veda says: “ Aano bhadrah kritavo yantu vishwatah ”, which means, let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere. These ancient texts did not have a single author, nor their philosophy a collective name. Because of its universality, this particular stream came to be known as Sanatan Dharma , or 'perennial duty’. Later it came to be called Hinduism. Unfortunately we now have its political version - Hindutva .

(See also: Peace on Earth , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: House Of Hinduism: Room For Everyone  

Ethics or ethical science treats about Sadachara or right conduct, morality or duty. Ethics is the science of morals, that branch of philosophy which is concerned with human character and conduct.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

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In India, many civilisations have come together over the years, creating new patterns of universal oneness. Raja Ram Mohan Roy ushered in the age of new thought in 1828. He wrote: "All mankind is one great family of which numerous nations and tribes existing are only various branches".

All religions tell us that the divine is within us. The Gospel according to St Thomas says: "He who has heard and assimilated my word is as I". In Sanatana Dharma it is Tat Tvam Asi. To find divinity within oneself it is important to act with compassion towards all beings.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Time to Rekindle Passion for Unity

faith: Trust or belief. Conviction. From the Latin fides, "trust." Faith in its broadest sense means "religion, dharma." More specifically, it is the essential element of religion-the belief in phenomena beyond the pale of the five senses, distinguishing it sharply from rationalism.

Faith is established through intuitive or transcendent experience of an individual, study of scripture and hearing the testimony of the many wise rishis speaking out the same truths over thousands of years. This inner conviction is based in the divine sight of the third eye center, ajna chakra.

Rightly founded, faith transcends reason, but does not conflict with reason. Faith also means confidence, as in the testimony and reputation of other people. The Sanskrit equivalent is shraddha. Synonyms include astikya, vishvasa, dharma and mati.

(See also: Faith , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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Kama

Kama in a wider sense means desire and in a narrow sense, sexual desire. Hinduism prescribes fulfillment of sexual passions for the householders and abstinence from it for the students and ascetics who are engaged in the study of the scriptures and in the pursuit of Brahman. 

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Trisarana (Sanskrit) The three refuges or protections, also called triratna or ratnatraya (three jewels); the Buddhist formula Buddha, dharma, sangha or samgha. Originally bodhi, dharma, and sangha (wisdom, its laws, and its priests or spiritual exponents).

"The philosopher of the Yoga-charya School would say -- as well he could -- 'Dharma is not a person but an unconditioned and underived entity, combining in itself the spiritual and material principles of the universe, whilst from Dharma proceeded, by emanation, Buddha ['reflected' Bodhi rather]

as the creative energy which produced, in conjunction with Dharma, the third factor in the trinity, viz., "Samgha," which is the comprehensive sum total of all real life.' Samgha, then, is not and cannot be that which it is now understood to be, namely, the actual 'priesthood'; for the latter is not the sum total of all real life, but only of religious life. The real primitive significance of the word Samgha or 'Sangha' applies to the Arhats or Bhikshus, or the 'initiates,' alone, that is to say to the real exponents of Dharma -- the divine law and wisdom, coming to them as a reflex light from the one 'boundless light' " (TG 342).

Further, the Buddha meant is not any particular Buddha but Adi-Bodhi or the First Logos, "whose primordial ray is Mahabuddhi, the Universal Seal, Alaya, whose flame is ubiquitous, and whose influence has a different sphere on each of the three forms of existence, because, once again, it is Universal Being itself or the reflex of the Absolute" (TG 343).

(See also: Trisarana , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Dharma Dictionary

Hinduism Facts

Hinduism Facts about Karma, Reincanation, Dharma and Worship.

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Ethics as a Means to Yoga.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga of Right Conduct

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is among those realised souls whose wisdom cuts across all barriers of race and religion, aimed only at restoring dharma and establishing the unity of faiths and peoples under the common banner of universal love and brotherhood.

However, to widen spirituality's reach beyond retreats and rosaries, it has to be made to touch all of life and divinise every activity. For this, the quest for atma vidya or self-knowledge is essential in a human being, for it awakens him to his inherent divinity and also promotes reverence and respect for all creation.

(See also: Atma Vidya , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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Artha

Artha means wealth. Hinduism recognizes the importance of material wealth for the overall happiness and well being of an individual. A house holder requires wealth, because he has to perform many duties to uphold dharma and ensure the welfare and progress of his family and society. A person may have the intention to uphold the dharma, but if he has no money he would not be able to perform his duties and fulfill his dharma. Hinduism therefore rightly places material wealth as the second most important objective in human life.

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ashrama dharma: (Sanskrit) "Laws life's orders." Meritorious way of life particular to each of the four stages (ashramas) of life, following which one lives in harmony with nature and life, allowing the body, emotions and mind to develop and undergo their natural cycles in a most positive way. The four stages are as follows.

á      brahmacharya: (Sanskrit) Studentship, from age 12 to 24.

á      grihastha: (Sanskrit) Householder, from 24 to 48.

á      vanaprastha: (Sanskrit) Elder advisor, from 48 to 72.

á      sannyasa: (Sanskrit) Religious solitaire, from 72 onward.

The first two ashramas make up the pravritti marga, (Sanskrit) the way of going toward the world through the force of desire and ambition. The last two are the nivritti marga, (Sanskrit) moving away from the world through introspection and renunciation. See: dharma, grihastha dharma, sannyasa dharma.

(See also: Ashrama dharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Dharma Dictionary

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, a name given to the Universal Religion which hailed supreme in India. It is the oldest of all living religions. This is not founded by any prophet. Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism owe their origin to the prophets. Their dates are fixed. But no such date can be fixed for Hinduism. Hinduism is not born of the teachings of particular prophets. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is free from religious fanaticism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hindu Religion Ð All About Hinduism

A part of the varna dharma of each person is sadharana dharma- the principles of good conduct applicable to all people regardless of age, gender or class.

sadharana dharma: "Duties applicable to all." Listed in the Manu Shastras as:

• dhairya (steadfastness),
• kshama (forgiveness),
• dama (selfrestraint),
• chauryabhava (nonstealing),
• shaucha (cleanliness),
• indriyanigraha (sense control),
• dhi (high-mindedness), vidya (learning),
• satya (veracity),
• akrodha (absence of anger).

Another term for such virtues is samanya dharma: "general duty," under which scriptures offer similar lists of ethical guidelines. These are echoed and expanded in the yamas and niyamas, "restraints and observances."

See: yama-niyama.

(See also: Sadharana dharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Dharma Dictionary

In a meeting of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Lokamanya Tilak said: - A Hindu is he who believes that the Vedas contain self-evident and axiomatic truths. -

The Hindu Maha Sabha has given another definition: - A Hindu is one who believes in a religion which has originated in India. -

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

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Karma - Hinduism. Main article: Karma in Hinduism Karma in Hinduism differs from karma in Buddhism and Jainism, and involves the role of God. Within Hinduism, Karma appears to function primarily as a means to explain the Problem of evil. One of the first and most dramatic illustrations of Karma can be found in the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The original Hindu concept of karma was later enhanced by several other mov ...

See also:

Karma, Karma - Karma in the Dharma-based religions, Karma - Hinduism, Karma - Buddhism, Karma - Analogs of Karma - God the judge, Karma - Western interpretation, Karma - New Age and Theosophy, Karma - Psychology

Read more here: » Karma: Encyclopedia II - Karma - Karma in the Dharma-based religions