tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post1840908703877156251..comments2023-10-10T11:41:29.875-04:00Comments on Hindu Philosophies: Is there anything like "absolute dharma"?Karmasurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01593320349146292650noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-5753147840465481032010-03-05T02:30:39.848-05:002010-03-05T02:30:39.848-05:00What is Dharma...? "Your right to do what is ...What is Dharma...? "Your right to do what is just and right and not what was destined"! The concept of Hindu dharma as detailed in sacred Bhagavad Gita is integral to all teachings of Hinduism! In absence of Dharma... the whole world simply could not exist! It is this inherent <a href="http://www.godrealized.com/dharma_definition.html" rel="nofollow">dharma</a> (righteousness) that makes the world go round!<br /><br />Dharma exists from times immemorial. Even before any religion existed in world... dharma existed! Dharma exists from times life came into existence on mother earth. Following our inner dictates... human beings controlled their life! Dharma is elixir vitae... sap of cosmic system! It is presence of dharma that makes journey of life worthwhile!Vijay Kumarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12528475350867074622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-1201694511747194092009-08-03T12:25:39.153-04:002009-08-03T12:25:39.153-04:00"why at one particular time in the history of..."why at one particular time in the history of a nation do people eventually deviate from it?"<br /><br />Haha! well.. now thats maya for you. <br /><br />The system needs a constant input--of Brahmanas being role models to the entire kingdom and providing guidance to the other varnas , KshatrIyas provinding protection (while not affected by the lust of power), vaishyas building up the economical backbone (while not falling to greed and unfair practices) and helping the poor, shUdras providing dedication in the projects and innovation in technology (while not becoming lazy and stagnant) <br /><br />Now, what happens when the Brahmanas fall prey to the maya, forget the eternal truth and become enslaved to the six internal enemies?<br /><br />The whole chain just collapses in a heap--Kshtriyas fight each other and many smaller and weaker kingdoms arise, Vaishyas hoard wealth and the smaller and weaker kingdoms go poorer as well, shudras become lazy and the smaller,weaker, and poorer kingdoms become technologically deficient as well... which is exactly where we are now...Gandaragolakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02364773312144169635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-50459144378838061162009-08-02T09:27:27.977-04:002009-08-02T09:27:27.977-04:00That helped to some extent.
But, what I meant to...That helped to some extent. <br /><br />But, what I meant to ask was that once that path is established, why at one particular time in the history of a nation do people eventually deviate from it?Karmasurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01593320349146292650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-6153656778278678192009-08-01T09:54:05.132-04:002009-08-01T09:54:05.132-04:00I dont understand what you mean by "making th...I dont understand what you mean by "making the rule of Dharma permanent"...<br /><br />consider these well known sentences:<br /><br />1) Dharmo rakshati rakshitaha!<br /><br />He who protects dharma shall be saved by dharma. <br /><br />2) yato dharmah tato jayaha<br /><br />because (there is) dharma, therefore (there is) victory.<br /><br />Dharma is not a law to be imposed on public. It is the cosmic order which, when abided by, unleashes forces that finally bring about harmony and peace.Gandaragolakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02364773312144169635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-46014444868505209272009-07-26T01:17:45.136-04:002009-07-26T01:17:45.136-04:00Interesting debate on dharma in a time where peopl...Interesting debate on dharma in a time where people think it as the name of an old movie actor.<br />Not sure we can accomplish "absolute dharma" for a long period of time.<br />the only period when this happened was during Ram-rajya.Dirt Diggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01135391085865919386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-48231204708058393152009-07-25T18:59:49.533-04:002009-07-25T18:59:49.533-04:00What are your views on making the rule of Dharma p...What are your views on making the rule of Dharma permanent?<br /><br />Or does the rule of 'nothing is permanent in the universe' also apply here?Karmasurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01593320349146292650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4517951733698598027.post-7960592963906369762009-07-24T03:48:41.176-04:002009-07-24T03:48:41.176-04:00Good post.
Very interesting questions, and honest...Good post.<br /><br />Very interesting questions, and honestly, I dont know the complete answers myself. But still, lets try to extract something out of our learnings and experience:<br /><br />1) Of the four purushaarthas of life-- Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and Moksha, Dharma is the first and prerequisite for the other three.<br /><br />2) Dharma is the root, artha is the stem, Kaama is represented by the leaves and flowers and the moksha is the fruit.<br /><br />3) As we can see, the ultimate goal of human existence is Moksha. But the fruit of Moksha doesnt just grow in the void. It needs the photosynthesis from the leaves, support from the stem and nourishment from the root.<br /><br />4) Hence, its the dharma, that provides the necessary prerequisite conditions in the society for the attainment of Moksha. Cut at the roots and the whole tree would just whither away.<br /><br />5) We do not constrain people by saying--do this, dont do that. But we rather apply a basic equation-- "what needs to be done so that people would want to attain moksha" and then extract the answer rgarding whats to be done.<br /><br />6) This would include--<br />a) Becoming knowledgeable in the Veda-vedangas and spreading the knowledge of the Ultimate<br />b) Writing poems, books, treatises, commentaries or just singing about the greatness of the Ultimate.<br />c) Becoming a role-model to others by walking the path of moksha, etc.Gandaragolakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02364773312144169635noreply@blogger.com