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Dharma is difficult to understand if we dont understand what it is meant for. Dharma is meant for us to know our essence (Atma). We all chose our own dharma.example..not speaking a lie is a dharma. Now some one can adhere to this principle, but it becomes his dharma only when we does not give it up even when his life is in danger. That way that principle that he followed becomes his dharma and that lightensup his "Individuality". Example is Harichandra who used speaking Truth as his dharma. Look at karna , for him to be loyal to his friend is dharma. Even now karna is know for that.
But ordinary people will have pricniples but when they give that up in challenging situations , it will never ripen to dharma. A principle is like a raw fruit, it ripens to dharma when the principle is not given up in any situation.
Look at the life of nayanmars and alwars. For one washerman (dobi) nayanmar every day washing clothes of a shiva devotee free of chrage as the first duty ,was his principle. It did not become a dharma until he was challenged and refused even to stake his life for his principle. Then that principle became his dharma and got enlightenment. This is why dharma always will save oneself. Dharma alone can help us to know the self.
Ordinary mortals would in the place of nayanmars would give an excuse saying "What can I do. I tried maximum to find a shiva devotee and stick on to my principle. But what to do I could nto find and so I cannot stick to to my words". Then his principle becomes a failure and also not frutify to dharma.
This is what we see in mahabharata.....each one has a principle and that is the dharma for them. That projects their strength of their individuality and attains moksha. Thus we should always stick on to one principle in life and never give it up. That alone will save us. we will meeet hardships but that is a means to test us. Alas very few only make it up. Then their principle becomes Dharma for rest of the people.
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Dear Pradheep,
Welcome, thanks for posting at last.
Yes, I agree with you, Dharma is based on individual conception of atma. which may vary due to circumstances. for example, I am againts killing of any living entities that is my dharma, but if I see a tiger or a snake charging at some one, I may have to kill it to save another live, here my dharma changes according to my Consciousness(atma)
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Raghu
Please unveil the story behind Vidura now.:-)
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I liked these most among Yudhishtra's answers!
Who is the friend of one who stays at home?
The wife.
Who accompanies a man in death?
Dharma. That alone accompanies the soul in its solitary journey after death.
Remember the dog which went with Yudishtra to the heavens.
What is happines?
Happiness is the result of good conduct.
What is that, abandoning that man will be loved by all?
Pride-- for abandoning that man will be loved by all.
What is the loss that yields joy and not sorrow?
Anger giving it up we will no longer be subject to sorrow.
What is that, by giving up which, man becomes rich?
Desire-- getting rid of it, man becomes wealthy.
Pride,anger and desire!!! If only we can conquer them!!!
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Mr. Pradheep has beautifully analysed the Point
And... Further.. certain clarifications are to be defined more ...which I add...
"pradheep"
//Dharma is difficult to understand if we dont understand what it is meant for.//
This Sanskrit word .. taken in all the Indian Languages including Tamil... means ..in Tamil... "ARHAM" («Èõ)... even which carries several meanings and definitions according to Tamil Dictionary and wide usage in Literature..
Sanskrit Nikandu(Dictionary) too presents several meanings... all relevant to day to day life of Mankind...with or without the faith in God.
But the most conspicuous meanings of this Word Dharma... are...
(1) Divine-Commandments ( Aandavan Kattalhai).. the Ultimate Code
(Ex: Manitha-Dharmam).
(2) Set-Law commonly applicable as a Yardstick or Basic-principle as the order of the day...(for Example "Yuga-Dharma").
(3) Specific Way of Life under specifc delicate circumstances (Aapath-Dharmam).
(4) Righteousness unharming to anybody's Best interests towards the Life-Goal. (Para-Dharmam / Supreme Will of God)
(5) Utmost Self-Discipline (Suya-Dharmam)
(6) Moral-approach of Empathy ...of Self-realisation as One in the Family, ..One amongst the Society... One within the God's Creations... and the One bound by Life-Code of Practice commonly applicable to any Creature.
//But ordinary people will have pricniples but when they give that up in challenging situations , it will never ripen to dharma. A principle is like a raw fruit, it ripens to dharma when the principle is not given up in any situation//.
Some times... one Dharma competes or Classhes with another Dharma ... culminating in a Dilemma or Embarassing Situations in practical Life of Reality. Such situations are called as . DHARMA- SANGATAM"... as have been confronted by some Historical and Puranic Characters as well as we too see in our Lives sometimes....
For example ... a Police Inspector find his Father is caught red-handed as the Criminal... where arises the clash of Principles..
... whether to carry out his official duty as an Inspector ?
.. or the Moral duty to his Father?... since...both are his Principles.
Under some such challenging circumstances ... the Heroes have decided differently... where only we get the HIGHLY VALUABLE LESSONS for our Life.
For example... the Best Character... in any Epic or Literature... for analysis.
Karna was caught in between two Dharmas... both are worthy and meaningful... but in discerning and chosing the BEST according to Situation... Karna failed...
Because Sucees of Righteousness towards everybody's Life-Goal is the the God's Will of UTMOST PRIORITY and Preferable under any and all circumstances... whether Vibheeshana, Harischandra, Lakshmana, Kumbakarna, or Meer-Jaffer.
//Look at the life of nayanmars and alwars.... principle became his dharma and got enlightenment. This is why dharma always will save oneself. Dharma alone can help us to know the self //.
While the man is placed in between his Mind's activities like...Desires Wishes Ambitions and the like on one side...and...
His Conscience Questions him on his Duties...and Commitments...and Bounds based by Laws, Principles, Disciplines, Gospels and so on based by Wisdom... raise Questions to him...
Irrespective of Dharma-Sangatam...even under day to day situations... only Dharmic principles helps him decide.
//Under such situations Ordinary mortals would in the place of nayanmars would give an excuse saying "What can I do. I tried maximum... I cannot stick to to my words". Then his principle becomes a failure and also not frutify to dharma.//
There only Man to Man differs in appklication of his Wisdom couple with Mind.
For example..two boys are taught how to use a Match-stick to make a Flame out of it. Both of them are EQUALLY wise and so have learnt well.
One boy lit several street- lamps in the village... making the whole village bright... and he studied at his home ...got educated more.
While the other... threw the match-spark on a Hut... making the whole Village burn...
Both have applied their Wisdom and Knowledge... But whereto?
There comes Dharma... to make him differentiate rather DISCERN by himself as also help others to convince him realise his FAILURE of Right Mind-application... bound by certain principles in his own interests as well as his Moral commitments in Life.
//This is what we see in mahabharata.....each one has a principle and that is the dharma for them.//
While Duryodana alone... had no principle... nor Dharma... inspite of his enormous Streengths around in support of him...
... Except engrossed by Adharmic Goal of ... Finshing his Brothers Pandavas somehow.. UNREASONABLE and unjust Wish...
... Based on Sheer JEALOUSY... and Nothing Else...
... So God interfered at every stage whenever the relevant Dignitaries in power and positions utterly failed in their DHARMAs...
... and had to show to Posterity of Humanity... that any amount of Power canbnot make an Adharmas win...
Best words of convincing answer on the Question of miserable onslaughts towards the failures and pitiasble End of Karna.. the GREAT-MAN ..
.
"¦ºï-§º¡üÚì ¸¼ý ¾£÷ì¸ §ºÃ¡¾ þ¼õ §º÷óÐ Åïºò¾¢ø Å£úó¾¡Â¼¡ ¸÷½¡.... "¿¡Ûõ"... ¯ý ÀÆ¢ ÍÁó§¾É¼¡"
("Senjoatru Kadan theerka saeraadha Idam saerndhu Vanjaththil veezhndhaayadaa Karna.... Naanum vun Pazhi sumandhaenada")
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Dear Raghu
I dont agree that dharma keeps changing. Dharma is the same everytime and everyplace. There are four types of dharmas..... universal, individual, social and human dharma.
Now in the case you mentioned, your still follow dharma againts killing of any living entities.
But you take up the task of "protecting dharma " of a human dharma and kill a tiger or a snake charging at some one. So killing act is not the problem here but "protecting" is dharma here. That does not change any time any place. If you protected soemone in India will that change going to usa or UK or any other place. ?. You would do the same. It is the intention of the act the problem and not the act.
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Dear sudhama
Very good for bringing the word "DHARMA- SANGATAM". Yes that sankatam is what helps us to know what is our real "Self". ordinary mortals would be bothered about "Me, my mine" attitude. In the example you gave, an ordinary police inspector would see a son in a criminal and fail in his decision because he is attached to his "My son, My family" attitude. A correct one would not see a son but see only a criminal who is dangerous for the soceity.
This failing of dharma is so clear now in India...the reason for all social immorals and social problems.
Mahabharata is an epic that shows how a king strayed from the dharma and instead appointed an unworthy son duryodhana as the prince. Our modern politicians are such dhrithirastras ruining the country.
Mahabharatha is the biggest literary work in the world, which is comlete in all fields. Personally clarity dawned in me after knowing mahabhratha.
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>>This failing of dharma is so clear now in India...the reason for all social immorals and social problems. <<
Think of when and why this failing started. Think of what deprivation does to people - what they had taken away from them - the needs of everyday survival. Those who done the taking away have long rot to the bottom and now seeking the path of "Dharma" to find themselves. Indians should not lose focus of this while they struggle for survival - they should not allow themselves to rot to the bottom. There should be compassion for such struggles of survival and seeking to hold on to dharma.
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>>There should be compassion for such strugglers of survival "while" seeking to hold on to dharma.
