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How are dharma and advaita related?

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
Advaita means no two, that is the relationship between a person and the Ultimate Reality are one and the same thing. There is no duality. It describes the existence of the self in the perceived reality.

I wish to know in this thread is there any relationship between dharma and advaita?

My own view is that dharma and advaita are inseparable as they both determine the truth of our existence. If the definition of advaita given here is accepted then dharma is that which determines ones survival means in the perceived reality.

And because God is there as pure Consciousness He guides the human mind into its dharmic actions that ensures his survival to meet the existential imperative.
 
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SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
As I see it, if we use the terms with the generally accepted definitions, we're relating carrots to can-openers. Advaita is a philosophical worldview of nonduality...that in my true nature I am Atman, which is identical to Brahman; while dharma is a set of behaviors, conduct, duties, etc.; a right way of living (Ṛta).

Yes, the two have a relationship in the way that both are key concepts in my worldview and I live by them accordingly. But one is a view of our existence, while the other is a set of behaviors.

If God is pure consciousness, how does It guide? As I see it, Saguna Brahman (what I think you are calling God), which has qualities and attributes and is therefore not pure consciousness, is that which guides; Nirguna Brahman is pure consciousness and simply is.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
As I see it, if we use the terms with the generally accepted definitions, we're relating carrots to can-openers. Advaita is a philosophical worldview of nonduality...that in my true nature I am Atman, which is identical to Brahman; while dharma is a set of behaviors, conduct, duties, etc.; a right way of living (Ṛta).

Yes, the two have a relationship in the way that both are key concepts in my worldview and I live by them accordingly. But one is a view of our existence, while the other is a set of behaviors.

If God is pure consciousness, how does It guide? As I see it, Saguna Brahman (what I think you are calling God), which has qualities and attributes and is therefore not pure consciousness, is that which guides; Nirguna Brahman is pure consciousness and simply is.
Dharma is eternal, and Nirguna Brahman is Pure Consciousness: we live in a 'machine' that gets us to do things for our very survival. This alone is dharma. It is integral to Advaita.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Dharma is eternal, and Nirguna Brahman is Pure Consciousness: we live in a 'machine' that gets us to do things for our very survival. This alone is dharma. It is integral to Advaita.

When you say "our very survival," are you talking about you, just me and you, all humans, all living beings, all that exists within maya, or us in our true nature?
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
When you say "our very survival," are you talking about you, just me and you, all humans, all living beings, all that exists within maya, or us in our true nature?
You have to be a practicing advaitist (in an advaita ashrama) focussed on Consciousness to survive and accordingly you will benefit from having all the material provisions through your dharmic acts to be able to survive.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Advaita means no two, that is the relationship between a person and the Ultimate Reality are one and the same thing. There is no duality. It describes the existence of the self in the perceived reality.

I wish to know in this thread is there any relationship between dharma and advaita?

My own view is that dharma and advaita are inseparable as they both determine the truth of our existence. If the definition of advaita given here is accepted then dharma is that which determines ones survival means in the perceived reality.

And because God is there as pure Consciousness He guides the human mind into its dharmic actions that ensures his survival to meet the existential imperative.
I don't think they're related much. Different topics. Advaita is a realisation for some, but these days, for most, more a philosophy. One can practise dharma without being an advaitin, and an advaitin could be adharmic without losing the philosophy.

But if you do consider advaita (non-duality) as a realisation, then dharma done well will take you there. But that's deep, not something Everyman will be associated with.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
You have to be a practicing advaitist (in an advaita ashrama) focussed on Consciousness to survive and accordingly you will benefit from having all the material provisions through your dharmic acts to be able to survive.

I see. So I guess no survival for me. :(

It's sad, really, just knowing how many are not a member of that ashram and will not survive. :(
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
How are dharma and advaita related?

As I see it, Advaita is the understanding that all that is real is One Consiousness = Brahman. It is a metaphysical position.

Dharma is more about how to best live one's life under one's metaphysical perspective.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
As an advaitist I would say that dharma does not allow us to be cruel to animals or even plants and one must also take care to tread carefully upon inanimate objects if one wishes to survive with God's blessing in this world: dharma is so clarified to us as the eternal management of the universe.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
That dharma is eternal is a personal observation from a lifetime of practicing oneness with truth through truth accommodation and seeing that our actions are very important in fulfilling a survival function, the universe being governed by God Consciousness as Nirguna Brahman.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
As an advaitist I would say that dharma does not allow us to be cruel to animals or even plants and one must also take care to tread carefully upon inanimate objects if one wishes to survive with God's blessing in this world: dharma is so clarified to us as the eternal management of the universe.
Everyone's dharma's different -- and how are you defining "cruel?"
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
Everyone's dharma's different -- and how are you defining "cruel?"
You are quite right that when we examine the world we find everyone carrying out different duties and actions so that it appears as though dharma is different for all people. This is because our self consists of our genetics which gets us to do different things individually. That is not advaitic dharma. If you are an advaitist like me you would transcend your gunas and be attuned to Consciousness and then derive all your dharmic actions from God in effect. This alone makes one an advaitist and spells out how dharma and advaita are related.

On your second point of how I am defining 'cruel', any thought of trolling others, let alone harming them in more serious ways through manipulation of circumstances is considered cruel. So one must lose all ones ego and be completely detached from everything in advaita if one is to benefit from wisdom to conduct oneself perfectly and infallibly in order to survive in this world with ones sanity and dignity in tact.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
You are quite right that when we examine the world we find everyone carrying out different duties and actions so that it appears as though dharma is different for all people. This is because our self consists of our genetics which gets us to do different things individually. That is not advaitic dharma. If you are an advaitist like me you would transcend your gunas and be attuned to Consciousness and then derive all your dharmic actions from God in effect. This alone makes one an advaitist and spells out how dharma and advaita are related.
Transcending the material world, ie: achieving moksha, with enlightenment, is easier said than done. Dharma is an artifact of the material world; of maya.
As I see it, we have to live in the world we perceive. This is the subjective reality dictating our dharma. We can't navigate an invisible Reality.
Once we transcend the illusion of the material world there is no more dharma. There is no more action.
On your second point of how I am defining 'cruel', any thought of trolling others, let alone harming them in more serious ways through manipulation of circumstances is considered cruel. So one must lose all ones ego and be completely detached from everything in advaita if one is to benefit from wisdom to conduct oneself perfectly and infallibly in order to survive in this world with ones sanity and dignity in tact.
Yes, this is basic Gita, but I was thinking more of things like eating meat and other worldly choices in relation to cruelty.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
Transcending the material world, ie: achieving moksha, with enlightenment, is easier said than done. Dharma is an artifact of the material world; of maya.
As I see it, we have to live in the world we perceive. This is the subjective reality dictating our dharma. We can't navigate an invisible Reality.
Once we transcend the illusion of the material world there is no more dharma. There is no more action.
Yes, this is basic Gita, but I was thinking more of things like eating meat and other worldly choices in relation to cruelty.
The one thing that I have learnt from Adviata is always reply: for not replying shows your ignorance. So in that light, let me clarify bearing in mind that this is the Hinduism DIR and debating is not allowed. The components of dharma are God-sent from pure Consciousness when one is in the advaita ashrama.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
An adavitin would say that the object is to surrender one’s ‘self’ to the pure Consciousness in order to experience advaita and when with that union ones actions (dharma) becomes manifested automatically such that these are infallible and perfect to the situation faced, there is no disruption to the functioning of the universe and every person has got his just due.
 
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Shantanu

Well-Known Member
If it is not appropriate for an advaitin to appreciate the beauty of advaita, whilst being detached from the idea, what is satchitananda then?
 
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