Understanding Dharma

Hindu Basics:
Source of the word Hindu?
Sindhu? Indu Mahasagar? Him-Dhu?
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?
Sanatana Dharma, Vedic Dharma, Brahminism or
Brahminical Dharma or Just Dharma

Understanding Dharma
Hindu Basics
For thousands of years of experimentation
in all possible fields of human domain are
being done by the people of Bharat (indian
subcontinent).
Bharat has a heritage that has developed a
great spiritual culture, great traditions,
unmatched artistic achievements, and
grand social, economic, political, health
and educational systems from which all
nations have learned.

Understanding Dharma
Hindu Basics
Hindu history is written with immense
contribution to the world in the field of
science, math, language and a glorious
history of heroic valor without attacking
others. But the most important is its
knowledge of the Self and the universe in
its Vedic and Vedantic treasure houses. All
of these are part of what is called
Hinduism

Understanding Dharma

Hindu Basics
How the universe, a society, a system or a
being is sustained depends upon certain
principles and laws. The eternal and
unchanging rules of being, becoming and
sustaining, the order that holds things
together is literally Sanatana (eternal)
Dharma (sustaining principles).

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Dharma is a Sanskrit term, which literally
means that which holds together or sustains
the natural order of things.
It refers to the universal principles and laws,
duties and righteousness, which bring about
peace, harmony and progress.
According to Dharma, religion is one of
innumerable possible paths towards
individual aspirations
It includes morality, ethics & justice

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
"Dharmo hi paramo loke Dharme satyam
pratisthitam
Dharma is supreme in the world, and truth is
based on Dharma The Ramayana
Dharma is that through which abhyudayaa
(welfare & prosperity) and Nihsreyasa
(Spiritual Greatness) are
attained." - Vaisheshika Sutra

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
'Yatha Dharma tatha jaya' - Mahabharat:
Literal meaning is "Victory Is There, Where
Dharma Is'.. we can modernize and say:
'Dharma or righteous actions in tune to the
truth brings success and victory'. ' jaya'
means victory, glory, success etc.

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Stephen Covey (Author of the international
best selling book: The 7 habits of highly
effective people): '...principles that govern
human growth and happiness - natural laws..'

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah': literal meaning
is dharma protects the protector of Dharma.
We can also say: 'One who follows the path of
Dharma will always be
sustained/safeguarded.'

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Slogan ideas:
'What is your Dharma now/today/this
moment?'
'Understand Dharma - Find your path'

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
"Dharanat dharmam ityahu dharmo dharayate
praajah Yah svadharansamyuktah sa Dharma
iti nischayah."
The word Dharma is derived from dharana or
sustenance; Dharma sustains society; that
which has capacity to sustain, is indeed
Dharma.
-Mahabharat, Karnaparva, 69,59.

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
"Dharmadartha prabhavate Dharmat
prabhavate sukham Dharmena labhate savam
Dharmasaramidam jagaat.
From Dharma arises wealth, Dharma is the
source of happiness, through Dharma we
attain everything, Dharma is the essence of
the world. " - Ramayana (III.9.30)

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
"Vatthu Sahavo Dhammo"
Dharma is nothing but the real nature of an
object. Just as the nature of fire is to burn
and the nature of water is to produce a
cooling effect, in the same manner, the
essential nature of the soul is to seek selfrealization and spiritual elevation.
Mahavir Swami, Jain Tirthankar

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Taji sabh bharam bhajio paarbrahm. Kahu
Nanak attal ih Dharma
Renounce all your doubts, and ponder upon
the Supreme Lord. Says Nanak, this is the
eternal Dharma - Guru Nanak, founder of
Sikh Dharma

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Taoism: Tao is an emblem, meaning order,
the whole, responsibility, efficiency. It is the
Responsible Efficient, Total Order, creations
as a whole, the whole of what is, multiplicity..
this is from a web-site, not anybody's quote,
yet very close to the definition of Dharma.

Understanding Dharma

Dharma as virtues:
Dhritih kshama damosteyang
shouca,indriyanigrahah
Dhirvidya satyamakrodho dashakam
Dharmalaksananam. -Manusmriti
Fortitude, forbearance, self restraint, nonstealing, purity, control of senses,
discrimination (good and bad), wisdom,
truthfulness and sense of anger are the ten
characteristics of Dharma

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
Dharma as virtues
Ahimsa satyamakrodho danaametat
caturbidham
Ajatoshatro sevasva esa Dharma sanatana.
:Same as previous(Manusmriti) with the 11th
virtue Ahimsa added.
- Mahabharat

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:

Dhamma means (a) the state of nature

as it is, (b) the laws of nature, (c) the
duties that must be performed in
accordance with the laws of nature, and
(d) the results that are derived from the
fulfillment of such duties.
- Buddhadasa

Understanding Dharma
Dharma:
"Twofold is the Vedic Dharma: Of the nature
of advancement in the world of action and
achievement (pravrttilaksana) and withdrawal
or turning inward into the world of Spirit and
Freedom (Nivrtti-laksana), both of which are
the necessary means and counterparts of the
world, leading directly to the attainment of
secular welfare and prosperity (abhyudaya)
and Spiritual Good (nihsreyasa) of all beings."
- Acharya Sankara (Introduction to his

Understanding Dharma

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 religion
from human society and what will remain?
Nothing but a forest of brutes." - Swami
Vivekananda.
Note: Vivekananda used the word Dharma and was
later translated to religion.

Understanding Dharma

Dharma:
"...is the manifestation of divinity already in
man. It is being and becoming, not hearing
and acknowledging." - Swami Vivekananda.
DHARMA <=> Sustenance, growth, evolution
progress!

Understanding Dharma

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.