SANATAN UNIVERSAL ORDER
Sanatan dharm is not merely a religion ,but the eternal ,universal order that sustains life and cosmos .
The word Sanatan means eternal,timeless,without beginning or end Dharma means that which upholds-the natural law,duty,righteousness and intrinsic nature of existence .
Sanatan Dharma is the eternal truth that existed before creation and will remain after it , It is not founded by a single person ,not bound to a single book or a single time .It is the flow of cosmic consciousness that teaches unity in diversity -Vasudhaiv Kutumbhkam,the whole world is one family .
Its core is based on four pillars :
1 -Truth -Truth is the foundation of knowledge trust and justice .It is that which agrees with reality ,facts and honest experience ,not merely what we wish to believe . Truth can be of two kinds .Objective truth,which is verifiable by evidence and reason,and Subjective Truth which comes from personal experience and perception .In both forms.its value lies in sincerity ,consistency and integrity.
Without truth,communication fails,relationship weaken and society loses its direction.That is why all great philosophies have valued truth .It is seen as correspondence with reality ,coherence of ideas and usefulness in practical life. In daily life ,truth requires courage.It may some times be uncomfortable or bitter ,but it ultimately liberates and enlightens.A truthful person earns trust and inner peace .
To live truthfully ,we must observe carefully think critically ,question blind beliefs,and speak honestly.Truth may be simple or complex but it always endures .
2 – Non Violence- non violence is the principle of not causing harm to any living beings through thought,words or action .It is not mere absence of violence ,but active love,tolerance and respect for all life .
Non violence or Ahimsa ,was the core of teachings of Mahatma Gandhi ,Lord Budha and Lord Mahavira .Gandhi showed that non violence is the strongest weapon to fight injustice ,It requires greatest courage than violence because it calls for self control,patience and forgiveness .
Non violence does not mean weakness or surrender .It means to oppose evil with moral force ,to hate the sin and not the sinner ,and to win over the opponent through understanding. In our personal life ,non violence brings peace of mind and harmony in relationship .In society ,it brings unity,justice and lasting peace.In a world full of conflicts and hatred ,non violence is the only path to true progress and human welfare .
3 -Compassion-Daya-Compassion is the quite essence of humanity.It is not mere pity,but the ability to feel another,s pain as one’s own and to act to alleviate it.In Indian thought ,Daya is considered a supreme Dharma,the foundation of all virtues . True compassion asks for nothing in return.It manifests in a gentle words ,a helping hand ,or simply in listening without judgement .It bridges the divide between self and other,reminding us that we are all bound by shared suffering and shared hope .
In a world driven by competition and self -interest ,compassion is both strength and wisdom .It softens hearts,heals wounds and restores dignity.To practice Daya is to see the divine in every living being. Let us cultivate compassion not as an occasional act,but as a way of life.For in giving compassion,we ultimately receive our own humanity back,enriched and complete .
4- Self Discipline-Tapas- Self discipline is the inner fire that purifies and strengthens .It is not punishment ,but conscious training of mind and senses .In Indian tradition,Tapaas is the austerity that transforms raw desire in to focused energy . Self discipline is the bridge between intention and achievement.It is waking up when the mind wants to sleep,choosing what is right over what is easy,and staying steadfast .When distractions are many.It does not suppress joy,it gives joy a direction.
Without Taps ,talent remains unfulfilled , With it ,ordinary ability becomes extraordinary.It brings order to thought,restraint to speech ,and purpose to action .In a world of instant gratification ,self discipline is true freedom .It frees us from habits,impulses and excuses.To practice Taps is to be master of oneself . Let us embrace self discipline not as burden,but as devotion -the daily sadhana that shapes character and leads to lasting success.
It does not preach conversion ,but transformation.It does not ask for blind belief ,but invites self realization through Dhama,Arth,Kama and Moksha .
1-Dharma-Dharma is the foundation .It does not just mean religion ,it means that which hold life together .It is right conduct ,duty,truth and moral law.To live with Dharma is to ask,”What is the right thing to do in this situation ? ” It is to perform your duties as a son,father,husband,neighbor and citizen without selfishness ,without harming others.It includes honesty,compassion,self control and service . Without Dharma ,the other three goals become dangerous ,wealth without Dharma becomes greed.Desire without Dharma becomes exploitation.Even the wish for liberation without Dharma becomes escapism.
For self realization,Dharma purifies the mind.A mind that is restless with guilt,anger and deceit cannot know the self.A mind disciplined by Dharma becomes calm,clear and steady- and in that calmness you begin to see who you truly are .Dharma is not restriction.It is the discipline that makes freedom possible .
2.Arth- Arth means wealth ,resources,security and worldly competence.Our sages were very practical ,they never said money is bad.They said it is necessary.A person needs food,a home,health,education for children and the ability to help others .Arth is the honest pursuit of these things.It is earning through hard work,skill and integrity,and using wealth wisely for the well beings of your family and society .
It is not about endless accumulation .Arth teaches us to be a trustee of wealth,not just its owner .When earned with Dharma ,Arth gives you freedom from dependence and anxiety. In term of self realization Arth removes the outer disturbance .When you are constantly worried about survival,you can not turn inward .A stable ,secure life earned righteously gives you the leisure and dignity to ask deeper questions : Who I am,behind this earning and spending ? Arth supports the journey,but it is not the destination itself .
3-Kama-Rightful Desire and joy -Kama means desire,love,pleasure,and emotional fulfillment.It includes affection between family,love between husband and wife,friendship,art,music,beauty and the simple joy of life .Our tradition never denied Kama.It celebrated it.To enjoy the world with your senses,with a full heart ,is also divine-provided,it is enjoyed with Dharma and within the bounds of Artha .
Kama becomes a teacher.When we pursue desires mindfully ,we learn two truths.First that joy is real and life is to be cherished.Second ,that no outer pleasure satisfies forever.Every pleasure comes and goes.This understanding slowly turns our search inward. For self realization ,Kama must be purified not suppressed.suppressed desire creates inner conflict.Purified desire enjoyed without attachment,guilt or addiction ,makes the heart soft and loving.A heart that can love deeply is very close to realizing that the source of all love is within the self itself .
4-Moksha-Liberation-
Moksha is the final goal.It is liberation not from the world ,but from ignorance about who you are ?While Dhrma disciplines you,Artha secures you,and Kama enriches you,Moksha frees you.It is the direct realization that your true self,the Atma,is not the body that ages,not the mind that worries,but the eternal,peaceful awareness that witnesses all .In moksha ,fear ends,the fear of loss,of old age,of death,loses its grip because you know you are not that which can be lost.You continue to live in the world,do your duties,loves your family,but you are no longer bound by them.You live with inner freedom .
This is not achieved after death ,but can be experienced here,in this life ,through self-inquiry,meditation,satsang and grace.The upnishads call it-Tat tuam Asi-that thou Art :The self you seek outside has been you all along .When the four are lived together in balance,life becomes both fruitful and fulfilled.
Sanatan is a way of life that respect all paths,accepts all thought and guides humanity towards balance,knowledge and liberation .
Madan Lal Sharma
website-http://thegodweknow.com