Can the five elements – earth, water, air, fire and space
be eliminated? Sun, moon, planets and stars be eliminated? The universe be
eliminated? Consciousness be eliminated? Obviously, the answer is a vehement
No! Elimination of these, amounts to elimination of one's own self! In that
case, then Sanatana dharma also cannot be eliminated!
What is the connection? Well, Dharma is that which
sustains. All these elements and entities in nature are sustaining us, by
unconditionally offering themselves to us, by engaging in their respective
duties according to their nature! The dharma of fire is to heat, water to cool, Air to provide vitality, earth to support, space to accommodate and so on. We owe our existence to every entity in the
universe - like the earth, sun, moon, planets, stars and also our mother, father, teacher/s, family, society and so on. When we
become conscious of this truth of our absolute dependance on the universe
around us, our duty towards every such entity automatically manifests as
dharma.
To engage in unconditional selfless service to the society
and the universe, according the innate nature, capability and capacity of
our personality comprising of our body / mind / intellect, is dharma.
Brahman/Ishwara or God who pervades and indwells in nature is teaching sanAtana
dharma, through every element and entity in nature. We as humans only have to
be in tune with Him. If not, we will end up as selfish demons who only exploit
nature for sense gratification.
As atma / self is eternal / sanAtana, dharma as a duty that
obtains between atma / embodied self and the ParamAtma / Universal Self is also
sanAtana. In fact, the indubitable and universal Self that abides in all, goes
by the name of Dharma as it sustains the body and the universe.
The body is made up of different parts and each part is
engaging in its own dharma / duty in total harmony and unison with other parts
so that the overall body can function normally, serving the indwelling self.
Likewise, the entire society / universe is the body of God
/ ParamAtma / universal Self and every embodied being is supposed to engage in
their respective work / duty according to their nature / guna / varna, in total
harmony and unison with all other beings, as a service to the universal Self /
ParamAtma / God.
In short, any selfless action performed with unconditional
love, according to one’s guna / varna, as a service to God manifesting as the
universe, for unconditionally sustaining us, is Dharma. Anything opposed to the
above is adharma, which is like a disease that needs to be controlled /
eliminated! That which is good for the universe, is good for the individual
embodied being and not vice versa!
To give more than what we take from the world is Godly / dharma. Taking everything from the world without giving anything is demonic / adharma. According to Bhagavata purAnam, the cow/bull represents dharma. It has four legs - tapas (sense control), shoucham (external and internal purity), daya (compassion for all living / non-living entities) and satyam (truthfulness). It is so obvious that these are universal values that no sane human can deny.
It is interesting to note that in the overall scheme of the universal dharma even adharma has its own place! It is not totally eliminated! Why? because adharma actually glorifies Dharma! While Dharma aims to serve God, manifesting as the universe, adharma is solely based on the body / ego, looking upon the universe as an object of sense enjoyment. Nevertheless, God, manifesting as this very universe is sustaining the bodies of adhArmic people also. The fight between dharma / suras and adharma / auras is always going to be there in the world but ultimately, Dharma alone wins, as it is in tune with God manifesting as the universe and unconditionally aims for the good and sustenance of all through perfect alignment of thoughts, words and deeds.
Is Sanatana dharma same as varNAshrama dharma?
SanAtana dharma is of two fold - Pravrutti (external) and Nivrutti (internal). VarNAshrama dharma comes under pravrutti as it pertains to the vocation one adopts to serve the universe. It is only a division in labor or karma according to the nature of the body, mind and intellect which belongs to the material world. Though pravrutti dharma differs based on the varna (based on the nature of the body) and ashrama (phases in life), they all end up as service to God who is the Soul of the universe and the benefit reaped is also the same for all. When proper rains and harvest happen due to performance of dharma, the entire society reaps the benefit. When all the organs in the body are discharging their specific duties, the overall health and happiness is reaped by the Soul. Varna which is based on the body helps to sustain diversity which is very much essential for the functioning of the society and the universe. But the indwelling spirit self or jiva is beyond any varna or gender. It is rooted in Brahman or God who is the source of all existence, consciousness and bliss.
The Nivrutti aspect is to realize and experience Brahman or God who is within one's own self, through tapasya or withdrawal of the senses and mind and this is common for everybody. All sAdhus, sanyasis, saints, devotees, jnyAnIs and so on are also beyond any Varna as they predominantly practice Nivrutti dharma and therefore considered as manifestations of God only!
Namaste
Suresh
