Quote:
Originally Posted by Raghu
If you had read my post on this question earlier in this thread, Raghu, maybe it would be a little helpful? Anyway, let me try and answer the latter part of your question.
What is Dharma? Dhaarayate iti dharmaha...is the definition given for Dharma...translated literaly "That which is worn is called Dharma" - meaning that which is to be upheld.
But the interesting thing is going by the meaning that which is worn...like clothes. Although Dharma is said to be universal, it is also individual. Meaning, one cannot apply the same dharma to every situation. Just as you would wear one set of clothes to work, another set of clothes to play cricket and an entirely different set to go swimming, and a total lack while bathing, Dharma too differs depending on the situation.
Again, a man is father to his children, son to his parents, husband to his wife, brother to his sister, friend to his friends - each of these roles calls for a different dharma on his part. He has to fulfill those dharmas as appropriate. In that way, while it is not an individual's own conception of what dharma is, it does mean that there is no one dharma that has to be followed irrespective of the situation.
Then again, Vyasa gave a beautiful summarization of what Dharma, Papa and Punya (Virtue and Sin) are.
Asthadasa Puraneshu Vyasascha Vachanadwayam
Paropakara punyaya paapaya parapeedanam
Translated: The 18 puranas written by Vyasa can be condensed and understood based on 2 statements of Vyasa
a) Punya or virtue is to help others
b) Paapa or sin is to harm others
Very simple, almost black-and-white concept. If your actions harm another person or society, it is sin and therefore not dharma. If your actions bring betterment to society or individuals, then it is punya and therefore dharma.
Again, cannot apply this statement blindly. There are nuances of dharma. What may appear good may not be really good for a person in the long run. Again, what may appear bad may really be good. A doctor cutting open a man's stomach to heal him is actually doing a good thing, although one would view a murderer doing a similar thing differently.
Again, dharma decrees that for the sake of the family, an individual can be given up or harmed, for the sake of a town, a family can be destroyed, for the sake of a country, a whole town can be wiped out etc etc.
Who takes a call on these, who can be the best judge is debatable, and not something I wish to go into, but suffice it to say one's own conscience, in accordance with what has been presribed by the wise in the form of shastras or scriptures is certainly dharma.
