Dharma Sandes’am -03

Message of Dharma-03

Our society understands the word ‘dharma’ in many different ways.

If someone is at your doorsteps saying,”O Patron, please do some dharma”,
we understand it as if he is seeking alms from us.
In Hindi land the word ‘sarva-dharma-samabhAva’ is used to mean ‘treat
all ‘religions’ alike’ Dharma means religion, here. Though different
meanings are ascribed to this word, Dharma is all-encompassing.
Therefore, our S’Astras give a general explanation
of the term. ​‘धारय त इ त धम:’ i​ .e., the one that governs
the world and its activities is ‘Dharma’. ‘
This is a lofty concept for the guidance of the entire mankind.

In this world, we know that 84 lakhs creations exist.

All the living organisms have certain activities in common.
These are 1)Feeding 2)Sleep 3) Fear & 4)Procreation.
While all these are common activities, Dharma is
special to mankind. Mahabharata (S’antiParva 264.26) puts this
as follows:

आहार- न ा-भय-मैथन
ु ंच
​ सामा यमेव पशु भनराणाम ्।
धम ह तेषाम धको वशेष:, धमणह ना: पंशु भसमान:।

Creatures other than mankind live in a convivial atmosphere,

because they are more aligned with nature.
But since mankind is given the sixth sense,
negative and inherent thoughts such lust, anger,
etc., one can altogether avoid any such negative thoughts,
OR one can cultivate positive thoughts & deeds.
In these circumstances, our Scriptures have prescribed a
comprehensive code of conduct for mankind, so as to bring humanity
on to the correct path, and keep it away from forbidden activities.
Our ancestors have explained that following ‘Dharma’ leads one
to ‘Moksha’ or liberation from the Karmic cycle.

Mankind has certain exclusive duties which are called ‘special’ dharmas
as applicable to the various classes of people, depending on their
peculiar traits and proclivities. These special dharmas are in fact part of
the general or ‘SAmAnya Dharma’. A house or any workplace has also some of these
dharmic principles that ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of life or business.
Different members of the family or the different working people are bound by
the general dharma - in that everyone has a set of duties & responsibilities with commensurate
rights as well. With everyone fulfilling their share of their general dharma, there is allround
orderliness, peace & happiness. But if there is a slight distortion in the
discharge of someone’s responsibilities, this will result in backstabbing, confusion, quarrels
and breach of peace. Hence if we follow the code of conduct prescribed by our
great sages, individuals accomplish liberation. In a society where such dharma-abiding persons
abound, such a society appears well-regulated, orderly, and happy.
We saw that four things are common to all creatures. We shall see in detail later in this series, how
those four things impact mankind, and how they are regulated.