SANATANA DHARMA
Sanatana Dharmameans the Eternal Religion, the Ancient Law. This is based on the Vedas.
This is the oldest of living religions. Hinduism is known by the name Sanatana Dharma. What the
Vedas alone declare to be the means of attaining the summum bonum or the final emancipation, is
the Sanatana Dharma or Hindu Dharma.
The foundation of Sanatana Dharma is Sruti; Smritis are the walls; the Itihasas and Purnas
are the buttresses or supports. In ancient times, the Srutis were learnt by heart. The teacher sang
them to his pupils and the pupils sang them after him. They were not written in book form. All the
sects, all the philosophical systems, appeal to the Sruti as the final authority. The Smriti stands next
in authority to the Sruti.
Hinduism stands unrivalled in the depth and grandeur of its philosophy. Its ethical teachings
are lofty, unique and sublime. It is highly flexible and adapted to every human need. It is a perfect
religion by itself. It is not in need of anything from any other religion. No other religion has
produced so many great saints, great patriots, great warriors and great Pativratas. The more you
know of it, the more you will honour and love it. The more you study it, the more it will enlighten
you and satisfy your heart.
INDIA—THE HOME OF RELIGIONS
The religious history of the world tells us that from time immemorial, India has been the
home of great sages, seers and Rishis. All the grand religious ideals that have moulded the character
of men, the loftiest of ethics and morality that have raised human beings to magnanimous heights of
divine splendour and all the sublime truths of spirituality that have made men divine and have
moulded the spiritual ideals of nations and saviours of mankind, first arose in India. The spiritual
horizon of India has always been illumined with the glory of the self-effulgent sun of wisdom of the
Upanishads. Whenever there was any upheaval in any part of the world, the origin of this could be
traced to the wave of spirituality caused by the birth of a great soul—a special manifestation of
Divinity—in some part of India.
Hindus have had a culture, civilisation and religion millennia older than those of any other
country or people. God did speak to the world through India’s Rishis, Yogins, Mahatmas, Alvars,
prophets, Acharyas, Sannyasins and saints. Their teachings and Puranas are really inspired. God is
the one Light and Truth from whom emanate the teachings of all faiths.
India is the home and abode of religions. It occupies the proud first place in religious
devotion and godliness. It is famous for its Yogins and saints. The goal of India is Self-realisation or
attainment of God-consciousness, through renunciation. The history of India is a history of religion.
Its social code and regulations are founded upon religion. Minus its Yoga, religion and its
regulations, India will not be what it has been for millennia. Some Hindus are still not aware of the
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ALL ABOUT HINDUISM
distinguishing features of Sanatana Dharma. If every Hindu knew and understood what Hinduism
is, the Hindus of today would all be gods on this earth.
May you all be endowed with the knowledge of Sanatana Dharma! May you all endeavour
to protect the Eternal Dharma! May the secrets of Sanatana Dharma be revealed unto you all, like a
fruit in the palm of your hand, through the Grace of the Lord! May the blessings of Rishis be upon
you all! Glory to the Vedas and Sanatana Dharma! Glory to Brahman, the source for all Vedas and
Sanatana Dharma!
SAMANYA DHARMA
Every religion has a generic form or Samanya-Rupa and a specific form or Visesha-Rupa.
The general form remains eternally the same. It is never changed by any circumstance whatsoever.
It is not affected at all by changes of time, place, surroundings and individual differences. This
aspect of religion is called Sanatana or eternal. That which changes according to the change of time,
place and surrounding circumstances is the external aspect or ritual, of Dharma.
Samanya Dharma is the general Dharma or law for all men. Varnasrama Dharmas are
special Dharmas which are to be practised by particular castes and by men in particular stages of
life. The Samanya Dharmas must be practised by all, irrespective of distinctions of Varna and
Asrama, creed or colour. Goodness is not the property of any one class, creed, sect or community.
Every man should possess this virtue.
FUNDAMENTALS OF DHARMA
THE VISHNU SAMHITA enumerates forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the mind,
purity, practice of charity, control of the senses, non-violence, service of the Guru, visiting places of
pilgrimage, compassion, simplicity, absence of greed, worship of the gods and the Brahmanas, and
absence of malice as the ingredients of Samanya Dharma, the general law for all men.
THE MAHABHARATA enumerates the performance of Sraaddha or offering oblations to
the forefathers, religious austerity, truth, restraint of anger, satisfaction with one’s own wife, purity,
learning, absence of envy, knowledge of the Self and forbearance as the fundamentals of Dharma.
It is said in PADMA PURANA that Dharma proceeds from continence, truthfulness,
austerity, charity, self-control, forbearance, purity, non-violence, serenity and non-thieving and
that one should recognise Dharma by these ten factors. According to this Purana, bestowing gifts on
deserving persons, fixing one’s thoughts on Lord Krishna, adoration of one’s parents, offering a
portion of the daily meal to all creatures and giving a morsel of food to a cow are the characteristics
of Dharma.
According to MATSYA PURANA, freedom from malice, absence of covetousness, control
of the senses, austerity, celibacy, compassion, truthfulness, forbearance and fortitude constitute the
fundamentals of Sanatana Dharma.
27
HINDU DHARMA
PATANJALI MAHARSHI, the exponent of Raja Yoga philosophy, recommends that ten
virtues should be practised by all men. The first five are: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya
(truthfulness), Brahmacharya (celibacy in thought, word and deed), Asteya (non-stealing) and
Aparigraha (non-covetousness). These constitute Yama or self-restraint. The other five virtues are:
Saucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study
of scriptures or recitation of Mantra) and Isvara-pranidhana (consecration of the fruits of all works
to the Lord). These constitute Niyama or religious observance.
THE GITA enumerates the following virtues as Daivi-Sampat or divine qualities:
fearlessness, cleanness of life, steadfastness in the Yoga of Wisdom, alms-giving, self-restraint,
sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, absence of
wrath, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion to living beings,
non-covetousness, mildness, modesty, absence of fickleness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity
and absence of envy and pride. All these virtues are manifestations of the four fundamental virtues:
(i) non-violence, (ii) truth, (iii) purity and (iv) self-control. All the above virtues come under the
above four cardinal virtues. The virtues that are enumerated under the Noble Eightfold Path of
Buddhism and the virtues prescribed by Lord Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, also come under
the above fundamental virtues.
The development of the divine qualities is indispensable for the attainment of
Self-realisation. Brahman or the Eternal is purity. The Eternal cannot be attained without the
attainment of purity. Brahman is truth. The Eternal cannot be attained without practising truth.
Brahman is fearlessness. The Eternal cannot be attained unless you become absolutely fearless.
Attachment to the body causes fear and Dehadhyasa. If only you become fearless, then the
identification with the body will vanish.
You have rendered the heart harder than flint, steel or diamond through greed, miserliness,
harshness and rudeness. You can soften it only through the practice of mercy, sympathy, charity,
generosity, magnanimity, harmlessness, mildness, disinterested action and untiring service of the
poor. You have made the heart crooked and narrow through hypocrisy, untruthfulness, backbiting
and talebearing. You can expand it through the practice of straightforwardness, truthfulness,
cleanness of life, alms-giving and non-covetousness. You have rendered the heart impure through
lust. You can purify it through the practice of celibacy in thought, word and deed.
ธรรม SANATANASanatana Dharmameans ศาสนานิรันดร์ กฎหมายโบราณ นี้อยู่บนเวทเก่าแก่ที่สุดของศาสนานั่งเล่นอยู่ ศาสนาฮินดูเป็นที่รู้จักกัน โดยชื่อ Sanatana ธรรม สิ่งประกาศพระเวทเพียงอย่างเดียวจะ หมายถึงของเรือ summum bonum หรือเลิกทาสขั้นสุดท้าย คือSanatana ธรรมหรือฮินดูธรรมSruti เป็นพื้นฐานของธรรม Sanatana Smritis มีผนัง Itihasas และ Purnasมี buttresses หรือสนับสนุน ในสมัยโบราณ Srutis ได้เรียนรู้ใจ ครูสังนักเรียนของเขาและเมื่อพวกเขาสร้างพวกเขาหลังจากเขา นอกจากนี้พวกเขาไม่ได้เขียนในแบบฟอร์มการจอง ทั้งหมดนี้sects ปรัชญาระบบ ดึงดูด Sruti ที่เป็นหน่วยงานสุดท้าย Smriti ยืนถัดไปในอำนาจ Srutiศาสนาฮินดูถึงทึ่งในความลึกของปรัชญาของ การสอนจริยธรรมจะสูงส่ง ไม่ซ้ำกัน และคลาย ยืดหยุ่นได้สูง และดัดแปลงเพื่อทุกความต้องการมนุษย์ได้ เป็นห้องพักศาสนา ด้วยตัวเอง ไม่ต้องการอะไรจากศาสนาอื่น ๆ ศาสนาอื่น ๆ ไม่ได้ผลิตมากนักบุญดี ดีแลนด์เพทรีออตส์ นักรบดี และ Pativratas ดี ยิ่งคุณรู้ มันยิ่งจะเกียรติ และรักมัน ยิ่งคุณศึกษา ยิ่งจะสอนคุณ และตอบสนองคุณอินเดีย – บ้านศาสนาประวัติศาสนาของโลกบอกว่า ตั้งแต่อดีตกาลนานกาเล อินเดียได้รับการบ้าน ของดีลอินเตอร์ seers Rishis ทั้งหมดแกรนด์ศาสนาอุดมคติที่มีขึ้นอักขระof men, the loftiest of ethics and morality that have raised human beings to magnanimous heights ofdivine splendour and all the sublime truths of spirituality that have made men divine and havemoulded the spiritual ideals of nations and saviours of mankind, first arose in India. The spiritualhorizon of India has always been illumined with the glory of the self-effulgent sun of wisdom of theUpanishads. Whenever there was any upheaval in any part of the world, the origin of this could betraced to the wave of spirituality caused by the birth of a great soul—a special manifestation ofDivinity—in some part of India.Hindus have had a culture, civilisation and religion millennia older than those of any othercountry or people. God did speak to the world through India’s Rishis, Yogins, Mahatmas, Alvars,prophets, Acharyas, Sannyasins and saints. Their teachings and Puranas are really inspired. God isthe one Light and Truth from whom emanate the teachings of all faiths.India is the home and abode of religions. It occupies the proud first place in religiousdevotion and godliness. It is famous for its Yogins and saints. The goal of India is Self-realisation orattainment of God-consciousness, through renunciation. The history of India is a history of religion.Its social code and regulations are founded upon religion. Minus its Yoga, religion and itsregulations, India will not be what it has been for millennia. Some Hindus are still not aware of the26ALL ABOUT HINDUISMdistinguishing features of Sanatana Dharma. If every Hindu knew and understood what Hinduismis, the Hindus of today would all be gods on this earth.May you all be endowed with the knowledge of Sanatana Dharma! May you all endeavourto protect the Eternal Dharma! May the secrets of Sanatana Dharma be revealed unto you all, like afruit in the palm of your hand, through the Grace of the Lord! May the blessings of Rishis be uponyou all! Glory to the Vedas and Sanatana Dharma! Glory to Brahman, the source for all Vedas andSanatana Dharma!SAMANYA DHARMAEvery religion has a generic form or Samanya-Rupa and a specific form or Visesha-Rupa.The general form remains eternally the same. It is never changed by any circumstance whatsoever.It is not affected at all by changes of time, place, surroundings and individual differences. Thisaspect of religion is called Sanatana or eternal. That which changes according to the change of time,place and surrounding circumstances is the external aspect or ritual, of Dharma.Samanya Dharma is the general Dharma or law for all men. Varnasrama Dharmas arespecial Dharmas which are to be practised by particular castes and by men in particular stages oflife. The Samanya Dharmas must be practised by all, irrespective of distinctions of Varna andAsrama, creed or colour. Goodness is not the property of any one class, creed, sect or community.Every man should possess this virtue.FUNDAMENTALS OF DHARMATHE VISHNU SAMHITA enumerates forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the mind,purity, practice of charity, control of the senses, non-violence, service of the Guru, visiting places ofpilgrimage, compassion, simplicity, absence of greed, worship of the gods and the Brahmanas, andabsence of malice as the ingredients of Samanya Dharma, the general law for all men.THE MAHABHARATA enumerates the performance of Sraaddha or offering oblations tothe forefathers, religious austerity, truth, restraint of anger, satisfaction with one’s own wife, purity,learning, absence of envy, knowledge of the Self and forbearance as the fundamentals of Dharma.It is said in PADMA PURANA that Dharma proceeds from continence, truthfulness,austerity, charity, self-control, forbearance, purity, non-violence, serenity and non-thieving andthat one should recognise Dharma by these ten factors. According to this Purana, bestowing gifts ondeserving persons, fixing one’s thoughts on Lord Krishna, adoration of one’s parents, offering aportion of the daily meal to all creatures and giving a morsel of food to a cow are the characteristicsof Dharma.According to MATSYA PURANA, freedom from malice, absence of covetousness, controlof the senses, austerity, celibacy, compassion, truthfulness, forbearance and fortitude constitute thefundamentals of Sanatana Dharma.27HINDU DHARMAPATANJALI MAHARSHI, the exponent of Raja Yoga philosophy, recommends that tenvirtues should be practised by all men. The first five are: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya(truthfulness), Brahmacharya (celibacy in thought, word and deed), Asteya (non-stealing) andAparigraha (non-covetousness). These constitute Yama or self-restraint. The other five virtues are:Saucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (studyof scriptures or recitation of Mantra) and Isvara-pranidhana (consecration of the fruits of all worksto the Lord). These constitute Niyama or religious observance.THE GITA enumerates the following virtues as Daivi-Sampat or divine qualities:fearlessness, cleanness of life, steadfastness in the Yoga of Wisdom, alms-giving, self-restraint,sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity, straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, absence ofwrath, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion to living beings,non-covetousness, mildness, modesty, absence of fickleness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purityand absence of envy and pride. All these virtues are manifestations of the four fundamental virtues:(i) non-violence, (ii) truth, (iii) purity and (iv) self-control. All the above virtues come under theabove four cardinal virtues. The virtues that are enumerated under the Noble Eightfold Path ofBuddhism and the virtues prescribed by Lord Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, also come underthe above fundamental virtues.The development of the divine qualities is indispensable for the attainment of
Self-realisation. Brahman or the Eternal is purity. The Eternal cannot be attained without the
attainment of purity. Brahman is truth. The Eternal cannot be attained without practising truth.
Brahman is fearlessness. The Eternal cannot be attained unless you become absolutely fearless.
Attachment to the body causes fear and Dehadhyasa. If only you become fearless, then the
identification with the body will vanish.
You have rendered the heart harder than flint, steel or diamond through greed, miserliness,
harshness and rudeness. You can soften it only through the practice of mercy, sympathy, charity,
generosity, magnanimity, harmlessness, mildness, disinterested action and untiring service of the
poor. You have made the heart crooked and narrow through hypocrisy, untruthfulness, backbiting
and talebearing. You can expand it through the practice of straightforwardness, truthfulness,
cleanness of life, alms-giving and non-covetousness. You have rendered the heart impure through
lust. You can purify it through the practice of celibacy in thought, word and deed.
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