Sanatan Dharma – The essence of Hindu Dharma

February 4, 2007 at 10:04 am (Hinduism, Religion, Spiritual, Yoga)

Hinduism is more than a religion, more than the theological direction in which the west understands religion. It is an unbroken spiritual tradition that is founded on the principles of Dharma which is often called Sanatan Dharma.

“Religion is a Western concept; the Indian concept is neither religion nor even Hinduism nor any ‘ism’ – it is Sanatana Dharma, the eternal law of the universe, which cannot be formulated in any rigid and final set of tenets.”

– Michel Danino

It differs from Western religion in certain key respects:

  • Its origin cannot be traced to a single person who received a divine revelation and became the founder of the faith.
  • It cannot be defined in terms of a dogma or a body of beliefs that distinguishes its followers from the rest of humanity.
  • It does not have an established institution with the power to induct or expel people from the faith.
  • Even though there is no central authority that enforces cohesion among its people and lays out plans for the future, its fundamental concepts and outlook have permeated all sections of the society.

It has the following fundamental qualities:

  • Recognizes that the greater portion of human religious aspirations has always been unknown, undefined and outside of any institutionalized belief.
  • Gives reverence to individual spiritual experience over any formal religious doctrine.
  • Allows absolute freedom to the rational mind of man. It never demands any undue restraint upon the freedom of human reason, the freedom of thought, feeling and will of man.
  • It is only a means to an end, and all means that ultimately lead to the final goal are approved of.
  • Does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship.
  • It allows everybody to reflect, investigate, enquire and cogitate.

Sanatan Dharma ceases to exists when…

  • Wherever the Universal Truth is not recognized, or is scaled down or limited to a particular group, book or person, even if done so in the name of God.
  • Dogmatically assert that the final emancipation or liberation is possible only through its means and not through any other.

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Linear Thinking

January 11, 2007 at 1:40 am (Thoughts)

You know there is one thing called linear thinking. That is to think everything begins somewhere and ends somewhere. Most of our thoughts and philosophies in the world have been going on in a linear fashion – but, there is another fashion to it, the spherical thinking. When the ancient Rishis were asked how this universe was formed, they said “first tell me which is the beginning point of a ball” what came first egg or the chicken, tree or seed. So the spherical thinking is – every point is the beginning and every point is the end or, there is no beginning and no end. All that cannot be measured, has no beginning and no end – that is what spirituality is, spirit is and the spirit loves diversity

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A Little Light on the Spiritual Laws

January 5, 2007 at 1:17 am (Book Reviews, Spiritual)

Diana Cooper’s A Little Light on the Spiritual Laws.

A wonderful book indeed!!

One can find a lot of insights in this book that talks about the Spiritual Laws that governs our lives whether we recognize them or not. Well one can say that most of the shortcomings that a person encounters are all due to the failure to recognize the Spiritual Laws or due to its violation.

If we do not understand the Spiritual Laws, there will be times where we will eventually learn it the hard way through the course of time. Apparently, this book will shed some light on these otherwise hidden laws that is unknown to many but repeatedly told and reminded by many great Spiritual Masters, Yogis and the ancient Rishis that had walked on this earth.

My favorite quote from the book is:

“We return to Earth again and again until we have mastered the spiritual laws.”

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All in A Day of Brahma

December 29, 2006 at 6:42 am (Hinduism, Science, Spiritual)

The time concept of modern archeology, and modern anthropology in general, resembles the general cosmological-historical time concept of Europe’s Judeo-Christian culture. Differing from the cyclical cosmological-historical time concepts of the early Greeks in Europe, and the Indians and others in Asia, the Judeo-Christian cosmological-historical time concept is linear and progressive.Hindu historical literatures, particularly the Puranas and Itihasas, place human existence in the context of repeating time cycles called yugas and kalpas, lasting hundreds of millions of years. This universe is said to exist for a lifetime of Brahma, the creator.

According to Vedic cosmology the flow of Time is eternal. Creation and Dissolution are only two events in a long cyclic succession of Cosmic events. There is no beginning in the past and there is no end to the future. Creation is a manifestation in concrete terms of the Absolute. Dissolution is when the entire created universe merges in the Absolute. And that is when the period of non-manifestation begins. The periods of manifestation and of non-manifestation alternate. These are the days and nights of Brahma. Brahma Himself is a manifestation of the Absolute. He has a life of 100 years in His time.

“Outside of the three planetary systems, the four Yugas multiplied by one thousand comprise one day on the planet of Brahma. A similar periodcomprises a night of Brahma, in which the creator of the universe goes to sleep.”

(Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 3, Chapter 11, Text 22)

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The Forces of the Universe

December 29, 2006 at 3:53 am (Science, Spiritual)

Our modern scientific revolution started with the discovery of Gravitational Force (GF) – a force that is able to act over large distances and is always an attractive force. Science did not stop there. It revolved to discover other higher forces that made it possible to innovate the technological or digital revolution that is hapenning today. This force can be classified as the Electromagnetic Force (EF) – which operates over short distances and interacts with electrically charged particles. This force is much stronger than the gravitational force, this force operates on the very small scale of atoms and molecules which possess two kinds of electrical charges, positive and negative, that tend to attract or repel one another.

The third force is called the Nuclear Force (NF) – which binds particles together into combinations (matter that is made up of proton and neutron which holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom).

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The Noble Eight Fold Path

December 24, 2006 at 3:21 pm (Spiritual)

Quite recently a Chinese uncle whom I know quite long, lent me a book on Buddhism. I was flipping through this book whenever I got some spare time. It was quite an interesting book though, but what striked me most was the Noble Eightfold Path that was embedded on the last page.

1. Right Speech

2. Right Action

3. Right Livelihood

4. Right Mindfulness

5. Right Meditation

6. Right Thoughts

7. Right Understanding

8. Right Exertion or right effort

Many times I have heard about the Noble Eightfold Path, but this time I got a different understanding of it. In fact this profound Noble Eightfold Path thought by the Buddha holds the key to self-mastery.

Self-mastery or realization is not possible if one do not practice these noble attributes. The Noble Eightfold Path is the expansion of what the Hindus call Dharma. It is the only means to Self Realization and there is no compromise to it!

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Spiritual Laws of Life

December 24, 2006 at 3:14 pm (Spiritual)

Spiritual Laws that are important.

  • I am responsible for myself and my own pathways and allow others to be responsible for their own.
  • It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us.

  • God is Truth (Sat) and Truth is God. Truth does not mean simply speaking truth and thinking truth, but it is a righteous mode of life.
  • This grand Mystery of Life cannot be resolved by intellectual attainments or by sophisticated reasoning which may bring in knowledge but not wisdom.

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Tattva – Online Monthly Magazine for Hindu Youth

November 25, 2006 at 1:17 am (Web Links)

Tattva is an international monthly magazine contributed by Hindu Youth. In Sanskrit, तत्त्व means essence, and through this magazine we aim to present the essential and inspiring aspects of the ancient Hindu Culture along with related current day issues.

Tattva is a unique effort in this regard and one of the first of its kind. It is an avenue to gain a better understanding of the most ancient culture thriving on this planet. It offers us an opportunity to share our ideas about it as well as inspire others.

Get the Latest Edition from the Tattva website!

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Hinduism Today Digital Edition

November 5, 2006 at 1:41 am (Book Reviews, Hinduism, Web Links)

Hinduism Today brings us reports from Hindu communities around the world. It brings us reports from Hindu communities around the world, plus news and biographies, lavish photographs, beautiful art work, humor, letters from readers all over the world, and much more.

Relevant issues such as religion in a modern context, Hindu customs, lifestyle decisions, astrology, health and history are all explored. These issues are addressed through varied traditions of Indian spirituality, immersing readers in a fascinating, little-known global community. Published by Himalayan Academy, Hinduism Today is a public service of a small monastic community based in Hawaii.

Interesting for many but especially for Hindus everywhere and all those who are interested to know more about Hinduism.

For the whole story, see “Who, What, When and Why Hinduism Today.”

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Is Life a Random Walk?

July 29, 2006 at 5:45 am (Spiritual)

Is life just a random walk? Some people thinks it is.

Other, myself among them, say life follows a natural order. It is predictable! While history may not repeat in an exact pattern as to place or time, the present often is a rythm of past events.

What do you think?


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