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What is Sanatan Dharma
- Thread starter zenzero
- Start date
Literally, "Eternal Teaching", although "Dharma" is somewhat tricky to translate.
I usually understand it to be the traditional name for Hinduism, although I do acknowledge that Hinduism has been a strong influence (in language if nothing else) for Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and perhaps Taoism and Confucionism as well.
In a more ambitious and idealistic sense, Sanatana Dharma also means religion in its most exalted and pure form. The very activity and purpose of Doing and Learning What is Right. In that sense, it can't very well afford to be limited to specific traditions, borders, lineages or even conceptions of Dharma and/or Religion. It is the simple and direct expression of the Sacred in constructive and worthy ways.
I usually understand it to be the traditional name for Hinduism, although I do acknowledge that Hinduism has been a strong influence (in language if nothing else) for Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and perhaps Taoism and Confucionism as well.
In a more ambitious and idealistic sense, Sanatana Dharma also means religion in its most exalted and pure form. The very activity and purpose of Doing and Learning What is Right. In that sense, it can't very well afford to be limited to specific traditions, borders, lineages or even conceptions of Dharma and/or Religion. It is the simple and direct expression of the Sacred in constructive and worthy ways.
Similar to Sanatana Dharma, or to my understanding of it?
Yes...........
Treks
Well-Known Member
From an English speaking perspective, I have always understood Sanatan Dharma to be the traditional name for the umbrella of Hindu religions (and Hindu actually referring to ethnicity until it became the term that replaced Sanatan Dharma and Indian became the term to replace Hindu (the ethnicity ).
The term "Sanatan Sikh" is used for a person who syncretises Sikhi with Sanatan Dharma (Hindu religion).
To my mind it [Sanatan Dharma] is separate from other distinct "Dharmic" religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhi.
The term "Sanatan Sikh" is used for a person who syncretises Sikhi with Sanatan Dharma (Hindu religion).
To my mind it [Sanatan Dharma] is separate from other distinct "Dharmic" religions like Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhi.
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Desert Snake
Veteran Member
My opinion as well.
zenzero
Its only a Label
Friends,
To start with let us see the definition of 'Sanatana dharma is:
The difference between Sanatan dharma and Hinduism according to Rampuri Baba:
How the word slowly got connect with to mean Vaidic dharma??
No idea!
However it is amply clear that the word 'sanatan dhrma' in its purest form simply means ETERNAL [sanatan] laws of nature [dharma] which includes all forms and no-forms in nature that follows the law and so sanatan dharma has been accepted even by the Supreme Court of India to be a 'way of life' and not a religion.
Every human has a way of life and that when in tune with the laws of nature one is in perfect tuning in perfect balance in all respects but as soon as the tuning is out of sync. the individual loses balance. In this process one slowly masters the ways to be in tune some do it on their own others take help from those who have already mastered a way and so are called 'masters' or 'gurus' and in this the oldest system is the vaidic system but even in following the vadic system individual adaptations will be individualistic and so in effect every individual follows his or her own path according to his way of life.
Love & rgds
To start with let us see the definition of 'Sanatana dharma is:
source: What is Sanatana Dharma?
source: Sanatana Dharma -
The difference between Sanatan dharma and Hinduism according to Rampuri Baba:
source: The difference between Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism
How the word slowly got connect with to mean Vaidic dharma??
No idea!
However it is amply clear that the word 'sanatan dhrma' in its purest form simply means ETERNAL [sanatan] laws of nature [dharma] which includes all forms and no-forms in nature that follows the law and so sanatan dharma has been accepted even by the Supreme Court of India to be a 'way of life' and not a religion.
Every human has a way of life and that when in tune with the laws of nature one is in perfect tuning in perfect balance in all respects but as soon as the tuning is out of sync. the individual loses balance. In this process one slowly masters the ways to be in tune some do it on their own others take help from those who have already mastered a way and so are called 'masters' or 'gurus' and in this the oldest system is the vaidic system but even in following the vadic system individual adaptations will be individualistic and so in effect every individual follows his or her own path according to his way of life.
Love & rgds
Even an elephant looks different from different perspectives. (Depending on which end of the elephant you happen to be.) Being able to discern the elephant's head from the elephant's tail in no way affects the wholeness of the elephant. However, there might be different "appropriate action" (dharma) when dealing with the head of the elephant than with the tail of the elephant.
Treks
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a really good, clear statement.
I think the complication might come when people start trying to codify what 'appropriate action' in terms of religious actions.
Ravi500
Active Member
Here is a saying by Mata Amritanandamayi, a Hindu enlightened master, on the Sanatana Dharma....
The relationship between man, Nature and GodSanatana Dharma is the culture that saw this relationship in its entirety. Hindu Dharma offers the world principles and ideals of goodness and betterment for all beings. These have been handed down to us through the generations as the experiences of our Rishis. Sanatana Dharma, in reality, is not a religion. It is the sum total of all the principles, pathways of spiritual practice and customs leading to the moral and spiritual upliftment of everyone.
Dharma, artha and kamaall are accepted. However we are also reminded that mokshaor Self-knowledgeis the real goal of life. Hindu Dharmas foundation is the expansive vision of seeing and worshipping out True Self in all beings, in the earth, the sky, the wind, the ocean and the whole of nature.
One of the unique features of Hinduism is to help every person rise by going down to his level. People are of different samskarasmental tendencies. Each person should be guided according to their samskara. For example, some patients may be given injections, while others are given tablets. People may go to a doctor complaining that they have stomachache, but the doctor doesnt give the same medicine to each and every person. The stomachache could be due to indigestion, it could be due to appendicitis or it could be due to an ulcer or even cancer. The doctor must write the prescription according to the needs of the patient. Similarly, one should be advised to follow a particular spiritual path only after weve taken into consideration their physical and mental constitution and samskara. That is how the different paths of spiritual practices came into existence in Hinduism.