Sanatana Dharma is a Universal Way of Life
Sanatana Dharma sounds new to the ears but in fact it isn’t a new belief system or religion but rather the most oldest one in the world!
It is even said to be much more older than the oldest known civilizations in the world and is ever living despite of many persecutions many years ago.
This was the most dominant and the widest belief system in the world prior to the arrival of the contemporary religions of today.
The influence of Sanatana Dharma can still be seen today in many different countries although already heavily influenced by contemporary religions such as Christianity and Islam.
This belief system called Sanatana Dharma originated in India where in the people were called ‘Hindus’ after the name of Indus Valley. The term ‘Hindus’ was used by the foreigners to refer the people living in or near the Indus valley.
Their religion or belief system then called by other languages (especially in English) as ‘Hinduism’, the religion of the ‘Hindus’ but in fact the real name of the religion or belief system is called ‘Sanatana Dharma’ or the Eternal Dharma (eternal natural way).
Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one’s life according to Sanatana Dharma is indeed necessary for everyone to achieve liberation and to reach nirvana (the liberation from repeated rebirth and finally reach reunion with God).
Dharma the Natural Law of the Universe
Sanatana Dharma describes dharma as the natural universal laws that are present universally and in everything in the universe.
Observance of the dharma will enable human beings to be contented and live happily; and in addition, the dharma helps themselves to be saved from degradation and suffering.
Dharma is a set of moral laws and spiritual disciplines that can give guidance on individual’s lives. Dharma is the very foundation of life itself.
Dharma can also mean “that which holds or binds” the people of this world and the whole creation; and dharma is the “law of being” without which things cannot exist in harmony.
Dharma in Accordance with the Scriptures
Sanatana Dharma has plenty of scriptures which were written in sanskrit and they are classified into two: The Shruti (That which is heard; divinely revealed) and the Smriti (Those that are remembered).
The central scriptures are ‘The Vedas’ (The books of Knowledge).
The Vedas is divided into four sections namely: The Rig Veda, The Yajur Veda, The Sama Veda and the Atharva Veda.
The Vedas are hymns that are accompanied as well by The Samhitas, the Brahmanas (Ritual Texts), Aranyakas (Forest or Wilderness Texts) and the Upanishads (The Philosophical Texts) which makes the Vedas in total.
The Vedas are considered as the revealed divine books or the Shrutis (that which is heard).
Another major scriptures in Sanatana Dharma are Mahabharata and Ramayana. These scriptures were considered as ‘remembered texts’ or ‘Smritis’ in sanskrit but they are still widely used and studied for they contain texts that illustrate and explain the essence of Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita, as part of the Mahabharata is one of the mostly studied Dharma books which elaborately reveals the essence of Dharma. Although the setting is in the midst of the battlefield which was discussed by Sri Krishna to his disciple Arjuna (one of the warriors in battle), the essence of Dharma, life’s duty and purpose, life & death and the transmigration of the Atman (higher-self; soul) are also elaborately discussed in details.
All the books of the Shruti and the Smriti talk about the essence of the Dharma which generally refers to every person’s personal and spiritual obligations in life in order to serve his/her purpose.
The Dharma in general is the basis of the true and divine religion.
According to the scriptures, all living entities are governed by Dharma and no one is exempted.
What makes humans unique is our own FREE-WILL which makes us often fall into Adharma (opposite of Dharma, being unlawful, rebellious, unnatural).
Having the FREE-WILL doesn’t make us free from the divine natural law (Dharma) but because of this free-will, we will have the chance to consciously KNOW, UNDERSTAND and EXPERIENCE the essence of Dharma which shows Brahman (i.e God Almighty) divine’s love to all living and non-living entities.
Lastly, according to the The Atharva Veda , dharma is symbolically describes as : Prithivim dharmana dhritam, that is, “this world is upheld by dharma”.
Good Dharma = Good Karma
In Sanatana Dharma, there’s a belief in the concept of reincarnation and what determines the state of an individual in the next existence of life is their karma (it could be the accumulation of karma from previous and present life). Karma refers to the actions undertaken by the body and the mind.
To assure good and higher state in the next lifetime, one has to accumulate good karma (actions) by following the Dharma.
Following the Dharma involves doing what is right for each individuals, for the family, for the class, or caste (status in the society) and also for the universe itself.
Dharma is a cosmic norm, a natural order of the universe and if anyone goes against this natural universal law, it results to the accumulation of bad karma which could result into lower states of life in the next lifetime.
What Makes us follow the Dharma?
Doing any actions that can bring us closer to Brahman (God Almighty) is Dharma and anything that pulls us farther from God is Adharma.
That’s why the Bhagavat Purana presents righteous living of life on the path of Dharma which consists four aspect namely:
- Austerity (tap)
- Purity (shauch),
- Compassion (daya)
- Truthfulness (satya)
On other hand, Adharma or unrighteousness has three vices:
- Pride (ahankar)
- Contact (sangh)
- Intoxication (madya).
Possessing a certain ability, power, and spiritual strength is the main essence of following the Dharma.
The strength of being follower of the Dharma path also lies in combination of spiritual brilliance and physical prowess.
The 10 Rules of Dharma
Manusmriti written by the ancient sage Manu, prescribes 10 essential rules for the observance of dharma:
- Patience (Dhriti),
- forgiveness (Kshama),
- Piety, or Self Control (Dama),
- Honesty (Asteya),
- Sanctity (Shauch),
- Control of senses (Indraiya-nigrah),
- Reason (Dhi),
- Knowledge or learning (Vidya),
- Truthfulness (Satya) and
- Absence of anger (Krodha).
Manu further writes, “Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the essence of dharma”.
This means that the laws of Dharma can govern not only the Individuals but also the society as a whole if Dharma is made as guidance.
The Purpose of Dharma
The Dharma and its purpose is not only for people to attain a union of the soul with the supreme reality (Bhagavan, God Almighty); but it also recommends a decent code of conduct which is needed to attain worldly joys and supreme happiness lawfully.
According to Rishi Kanda in Vaisesika, Dharma is “that confers worldly joys and leads to supreme happiness”.
Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism as commonly known is a religion that recommends ways for everyone to attain the highest ideals and eternal bliss here and now on earth and it recommends anybody to not just wait to simply die hoping to be sifted for heaven. Salvation is now!
To simply understand this, for example, Sanatana Dharma teaches that it is one’s dharma to marry, raise a family and provide for that family in whatever lawful ways.
Practicing the dharma means experiencing peace, joy, strength, and tranquility within our own selves which can make our lives more disciplined and in proper order.