Monday, August 1, 2011

Dharma - Part I

Dharma is often a topic of debate or discussions among people. Different people have different interpretations of it. Some say it is humanity, some say it is Nationality and others say faith is Dharma. Yato mat tatho path. As many people are there, as many will be interpretations.

Dharma is a Sanskrit word, and the English word that comes closest to it is Religion. The dictionary meaning of religion is “a particular faith”. Let us see the original meaning of Dharma from the scriptures the authority on Dharma.

The scriptures say that Dharma is the intrinsic nature of an entity. By entity, it is meant living or matter. Dharma is that quality which cannot be separated from its possessor. In other words Dharma is the root of it’s identity. Srila Prabhupada used to give example of fire. The dharma of fire is heat and light because, heat and light cannot be separated from fire. In case these two qualities are not present then it is not fire, but something else. Similarly the dharma of sugar is sweetness. The two cannot be separated.

This brings us to the point that what is our dharma? If we go according to the dictionary meaning, that corresponds to Religion or faith. But we have seen and experienced shifts in our faiths and other’s faiths. It is not uncommon to read or hear about conversions. So possibility of change in one’s faith indicates it is not something innate or the very existence or identity of the person. Hence religion is not dharma.

Someone may question here that why are we denying the authority of dictionary here over the meaning of word Dharma. But there is a need to understand the significance of authority. When a Micro-biology researcher faces an obstacle in field work, who does he approach? One may approach an high-school biology teacher or even a college Zoology or Botany professor. But we see in real life one will take the most obvious choice of approaching the Subject Matter Expert on micro-Biology. Why? Because the SME is an authority in the chosen field. The high-school teacher or college professor may be able to give some pointers, but they would be as generic as the content taught in those levels. Similarly to seek out Dharma we should go to the authority on this subject, and that is Shastra - Scriptures. This Dictionary may give a meaning but it would be vague at best.

That Dharma is the innate nature or intrinsic quality of one’s very existence means it is transcendental to all situations. Since we are the soul which is eternal, it’s dharma is also eternal. Sanatana Dharma! – Dharma that is existing since time immemorial. The body, the external covering of soul is temporary; hence the dharma of body is also temporary. Therefore religion may be attributed to the body, because body is born in a particular family practicing one faith. but soul is transcendental to all such circumstances, hence it’s dharma is also transcendental.


Source: Gems of Wisdom