Sanatan Dharma | 1. Introduction | Sri Vinod Babaji Maharaj

 

Sanatan Dharma is worldwide known as the ‘Hindu religion’. However, this is not the real name of our system of philosophy that has come from God himself. The civilization along the Sindhu River was known as Sindhu civilization and the system of faith & philosophy followed by their people came to be known as the Hindu religion (‘S’ modified to ‘H’ by the people who could not pronounce ‘S’ easily).

The word ‘Sanatan’ means that which is an eternal truth i.e., it already existed earlier, it exists at present and it will always exist in the future as well. ‘Dharma’ could be understood as duty, obligation, spirituality or characteristic, according to the context. ‘Sanatan Dharma’ means the eternal duty of a human.

In order to understand the eternal duty of a human being, it is essential to first understand the meaning of Jiva tattva, i.e., what is a ‘living being’.

The Jiva (or Jivatma) is the result of the combination of Para Prakriti (Atma, the conscious, pure soul) and Apara Prakriti (lifeless matter). While Atma is a part and parcel of God, Apara Prakriti is made up of 24 elements:

• 5 elemental forces (space, air, fire, water, and earth)
• 5 subtle elements (sound, touch, form, taste and odour)
• 5 working organs (hands, feet, mouth, genitalia and rectum)
• 5 sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin)
• 4 parts of psychology (mind, intellect, subconscious and the sense of identity) 

Every creature is made up of these 24 elements, whether it is a bug, a reptile, a four-legged animal or a human. Further, there are five Koshas (sheaths) of energy systems in a Jiva:

1. Annamaya Kosha (The physical body)
2. Pranamaya Kosha (The life energy)
3. Manomaya Kosha (The psychology)
4. Vijnanmaya Kosha (The scientific intellect)
5. Anandamaya Kosha (The sense of enjoyment)

Annamaya Kosha is the physical body made of space, air, water, fire, and earth. When the Pranic energy (life force) of Pranamaya Kosha diffuses into the physical body, it becomes alive. With the help of Manomaya Kosha, the creature is able to think and memorize experiences. With the help of Vijnanmaya Kosha, a creature (only humans) is able to understand the science of different topics like geography, astronomy, physics, etc. With the help of Anandamaya Kosha, the creature is able to perceive (worldly) happiness.

In animals, Annamaya Kosha and Pranamaya Kosha are fully evolved, but the other three Koshas are veiled or inactive. Animals perform many actions that are only due to nature. They are designed by nature to find prey, kill, eat, sleep, mate, etc. They cannot think (absence of Manomaya Kosha) or it is limited to these basic actions. Although they can perceive happiness, it is also very limited to eating, sleeping and mating. Indeed, there are exceptions like some animals are found to be very intelligent, but it is still very limited and not fully evolved like in the case of humans. Sometimes, they can be trained to do many things for humans, but they do them to defend themselves from pain or expect food treats.

There are four kinds of Jivatmas based on the evolution of life force:

1. Avarita Chetan (veiled life force): Examples of Avarita Chetan are plants and trees. They show signs of life only through growing. It is the most rudimentary form of life force. When a person is given anaesthesia, although he is alive, he is not able to experience pain during surgery on his body. Similarly, plants and trees don’t experience pain on cutting.
2. Sankuchita Chetan (compressed life force): Examples of Sankuchita Chetan are insects and bugs. They have a little evolved life force and show basic survival instincts.
3. Mukulita Chetan (budding life force): Examples of Mukulita Chetan are reptiles and animals. They have a more active life force and can do various complex actions, but such instincts are related and limited to eating, sleeping, defending and mating.
4. Vikasita Chetan (fully evolved life force): Only a human being is Vikasita Chetan. He has a mind, an intellect, the power to understand various sciences and philosophy. If he wants, he can unlock infinite knowledge (both material and spiritual) within his heart and endeavour for the welfare of the Self, society and the world. No other entity can do this.

Incredible power lies inside the human heart in a seed-like form. A seed consists of a whole tree and under favourable conditions, the seed itself manifests as the tree. Similarly, the fully evolved form of consciousness is inherent in the human heart. With the help of sadhana, humans can break free from the cycle of birth and death.

“Āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṃ cha;
Samānam etat pashubhir narāṇām,
Dharmo hi teṣhāmadhiko visheṣho;
dharmeṇa hīnāḥ pashubhiḥ samānāḥ.”
(Hitopadesha 0.25)

Meaning: Eating, sleeping, fear and mating – both humans and animals indulge in these activities. But humans have a special trait – they can engage in Dharma. Without Dharma, humans become equivalent to animals.

Therefore, humans are the only entity who can engage in Dharma (spirituality). There are three levels of Dharma: Sāmānya/Manushya Dharma, Sāmājik Dharma and Param Dharma.

1. Sāmānya Dharma: Sāmānya means basic. The basic duty of a human is known as Sāmānya Dharma. That is why it is also called Manushya (human) Dharma. Just like the Dharma of Fire is to be hot, Dharma of ice is to be cold, similarly, humans have a duty to engage in Manushya Dharma. Otherwise, they become equivalent to animals. 

So, what is the basic duty of a human? 

“Ahimsā Satyam Asteyam Saucham Indriya-nigrahah,
Etam sāmāsikam Dharmam chaturvarnye abravīn Manuh.”
(Manu Smriti 10.63) 

Meaning: Non-violence, truth, abstinence from corruption, purity and sense-control – these are the essence of Dharma (duty) of all four castes, as declared by Maharaj Manu. 

These five basic principles are indispensable for the welfare of society and also build the foundation of spirituality. It doesn’t matter whether a person considers Krishna, Rama, Allah or God as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Without these five principles, a person cannot be spiritual, let alone develop Bhakti. Any person who tries to follow these five principles in their life is a follower of Sanatan Dharma, no matter whether he visits a temple or not. (These five principles of Dharma will be explained in further articles.)

2. Sāmājik Dharma: The duty of a human towards the society he lives in is called Sāmājik Dharma. To help the people of the society, to endeavour for the welfare of the society, to care for the poor and the unprivileged in the society, etc are the duties of a human towards the society he lives in. Protecting cows, women, children, elderly and Brahmins from harm is a part of Sāmājik Dharma. A person who doesn’t fulfil these duties or harasses others in society is called an anti-social person.

But these duties towards the society cannot be fulfilled without the five basic principles of Dharma. If a person engages in violence, lies, corruption, wickedness (impurity of mind) or sensuality, he can not do any welfare of the society.

3. Param Dharma: The duty of a human to endeavour for spiritual enlightenment is called Param Dharma. As explained before, the Jiva is a part and parcel of God, and it must break free from the cycle of birth and death using this human body.

But as different people have different temperaments and natures, there are numerous paths to Godhead in our scriptures, each with its unique system of worship and philosophy. These different sects (called Sampradāyas) are like the different branches of the same tree (Sanatan Dharma), and the root of this tree are the five basic principles of Sanatan Dharma. If a person sitting on one branch thinks that their branch is only the right branch and everything else is incorrect or not even a part of the tree, it's pure narrow mindedness. Without respecting other sects and following the five principles of Sanatan Dharma, the sadhak of any ideology will become a fraudulent person (by worshipping God but engaging in sinful inclinations).

Unfortunately, there are many so-called Hindus who are virtually atheists. They make fun of Sanatan Dharma, Bhagavat Geeta, etc, although they do not know anything about it.

Many people in West Bengal celebrate the Durga Puja by arranging events of entertainment and various shows. They clear a space (often which had been used for throwing garbage and dirty things), erect a tent and decorate it by using the money collected from the local people. Then they arrange for a Brahmin Pandit to do Puja (worship), which is often devoid of Vedic rules and mantras. Hardly anyone attends the actual Puja of Durga Devi. Most people just get together to eat, drink, sing, dance and have fun. There is hardly any spirituality in such Durga Puja, except the poor Brahmin worshipping Durga Devi. After three days, the deity of Durga is dumped into the river. Is this even Dharma? But outsiders who are unaware of real Dharma may consider this as a part of Hindu religion. Some dim-witted people say that Dharma or religion is blind. When someone tries to follow the scriptures and engage in Dharma, they say that such a person is ‘blind with religion’.

How can a religion be blind? Dharma gives eyes to a person. It gives a person the intellect to differentiate between what is right and wrong. Where there is no Dharma, there is Adharma (sinful activities) just like where there is no light, there is darkness. If a person or even religion is characterised by violence, deception, lack of purity, dishonesty and ego, then such a religion cannot be called Dharma. The people following such a religion can never be spiritual people. Even if a Hindu has such a mentality, then he cannot be called as a follower of Sanatan Dharma.

Therefore, it’s the duty of every human being to follow the five basic principles of Sanatan Dharma, regardless of which path of worship and which form of God they believe in. Dharma should be one’s basis of existence. Otherwise, he will only harm the society and his self.