What is Dharma?
‘Dharma’ in any manner can not be confused with the english word ‘religion’. ‘Dharma’ comes from Sanskrit verb root (dhatu) ‘dhru’ which means to hold, to unite, to assist, to nourish or to support. Thus, ‘Dharma’ can be defined as that which when adorned (by soul) assists, supports, unites, holds or nourishes the being while he/she wades through life which is full of the vagaries of nature. In short, Dharma is the ‘all inclusive approach’ of a person towards family, society, nature and nation. ‘Dharma’ is the manifestation of divine energy, be it the ‘Dharma’ of humanism, family, social, or governance. The goal of all these is the same: to unite, to support, to take everyone in the stride. This is the true meaning. The thoughts, practices which dissociates and divides are not ‘Dharma’.
This is one of the core teachings of Baba. He never gave preference to any spiritual practice or worship of a specific deity – be it Lord Vishnu, Siva or Ganesh. You can worship any deity you may like, offer whatever you want. Baba’s endeavor was always to ensure the spirit of humanity and humility is alive inside his devotees. Every morning when you chant ‘mantra’s and recite invocations, do you experience the almighty who is present in all living being? Divinity can only be experienced. If we can’t experience the energy inside us, it means we still have lot of frustration inside. It means we are still intolerant and are unable to simplify our life – We are still not directed towards god, and we are still rigid. Hence, we should lead our life by following the ideal of humanism and kindness demonstrated by Baba. Therefore, Dharma can be defined as the best way of living together with all the forces of nature, both (living and nonliving) under all circumstances for the longest period of time on this earth.
Source: Excerpts from the keynote speech by Dr. C B Satpathy in Guwahati during 2012.