Download Is Dharma, Dharma? As a being raised in the Western World, where

Is Dharma, Dharma?
As a being raised in the Western World, where Dharma is not common place, and
religion runs rampant, the thought of comparing religion and dharma has never once crossed my
mind. Perhaps that is precisely why I have been asked, “Is Hinduism a religion, or is it really
Dharma?”1 The answer is not apparent, nor do I feel it to be black and white in decisiveness.
The concept of Dharma being it’s own free standing spiritual system un-categorized, and undefined is baffling to someone like myself, who correlates any form of organized spirituality as
being related to religion. The beliefs of practitioners, view Dharma as simply life and not
religion. It is something you are, and not something you do. I believe any religion could make
the argument that their practices and beliefs are the only acceptable truth, and therefore their way
of life is simply life, and not religion.
What is Religion?
When asked how one is created in this life, the answer is simple and direct. You were
created through conception. As intelligent, comprehending beings we face the dire and
inescapable fate of death. The great question of our existence then becomes, “Where do I go
when I die?” We watch loved ones pass and hear about accidents that claim lives every day and
we are concerned for those people. We do not fear for the physical body, because we know it
ceases to function. We fear for the “soul”. This question has no scientific answer because the
soul cannot be scientifically measured in anyway. Our answer is the religions we create, and
there are as many definitions of religion as there are people on earth.
Survival is the goal. People wake up from their slumber and are ultimately focused on
tangible things that they need for survival (i.e. food, air, sex). These things come from the earth,
1
Wijitha Bandura
the rain, other animals and people. We can explain where they come from. While people go
about acquiring these fundamentals of life, something unexplainable happens. They experience
emotions. Fits of rage and bouts of fondness, overwhelming grief and joyful happiness. Because
we can comprehend and understand so much about our surroundings, we want to be able to know
all about the universe, and religion tries to grant us that. I know where my body came from, but
what about my mind? What makes me so different in thought and feeling from the others
surrounding me? These are the questions we instinctively want answers to.2
Theoretically, we did not choose to be born. Some religions teach that we did indeed
exist before birth as a spirit, or a single entity, or have lived before in another life cycle. Some
even go as far as to say that we chose our family as well as our trials. There must be some
comfort in thinking that we had an option to come into this world, suffer, and eventually die. It
would give this life a purpose, knowing in ones heart that there is a reason for life and a reason
for death.3
There are so many creation stories, Gods, books of scripture, sacred writings, all are
different ways to help people find community and happiness, answers to the great questions of
why we exist and what we must do in this life to live rightly. Jalulu’l-Din Rumi had a beautiful
understanding of religion. The vessel is not important. The religion someone chooses is not
important. How they feel because of that religion, and what good practicing that religion will
bring to themselves and their families, that is the key to religion. The title doesn’t matter; they all
are innately the same. Different people will practice the same religion in completely different
ways.
2
3
Aldous Huxley
R. Forrester Church
As intelligent beings we are aware of ourselves and our surroundings. We are capable of
understanding the science behind so many things. We know, now, why the sun rises and sets.
Why the seasons change consistently every year. We’ve been able to prove how much our brains
still function for a time after the heart stops beating. Imagine being born in a time when those
things were left unexplained. Religions filled those holes in our understanding.
Religion is different for everyone. Religion to me is a road for people to be happy and
content living a life of meaning and fulfillment. It is a way of escaping the menial tasks of
survival towards transcendence. It is a tool with which we build families, communities, and our
abilities to make connections with others and the great unknown. While the face may never look
alike, the heart of all religions functions the same.
What is Dharma
The mystical story of where the study and application of Dharma began, and a general
knowledge of the religion called Hinduism, can be traced back to several thousand years B.C.E.
Veda parables are rumored to have been passed down orally by rishis as early as 8,000
B.C.E.4According to those that practice Dharma however, it began much longer ago. Dharma did
not come from this world. It is this world, which is why Hindus must live in obedience with
Dharma to achieve enlightenment. It is their duty to live obediently according to their sacred
texts, social orders, gender roles, laws of Manu, Varna and Asrama.
The Hindu religion was given the name because of the geographical settling of the
people. The main river that runs through India is called the Indus, and British explorers called the
bulk of the religion practiced there Hinduism. Hinduism is a much disputed term, because it has
4
Pat Fisher Pg. 74
nothing to do with the beliefs of the people. There is still controversy over the term. Throughout,
I will use Dharma and Hindu interchangeably.
Before anything else existed, there was only one entity Purusha, the self. Out of a desire
to grow and create many, this entity self destructed. He sacrificed himself so that every living
thing could exist, and everything is a part of him. Similarly, because everything is a part of this
great One, everything is connected. Hindus call this Brahman. An understanding of the universe
and reality.5
In the first of four stages of life, Brahmacayara, a young Hindu of proper caste will study
Brahman. He will simultaneously learn about self, atman. Eventually, he will come to understand
that they are the same. Like each stage of life there are rules and promises he must uphold
during Brahmacayara. It is very important that during this part of his life he abstain from any
sexual interactions and remain pure so that he may study and focus all of his energy into
learning.
There are three other stages in the path towards spiritual realization and the end of
samysara, this path is called Asrama. The stage after being a celibate student is considered the
most enjoyable phase of life. Grhastna, or householders, are the main supporters of his family. It
is considered an honor to support others. Here he is given the opportunity to explore sensuality
with his wife, and is encouraged to have as much pleasure as possible. As a Householder, he
performs domestic rituals. He then becomes vanaprastha, a forest dweller. And finally, if he
manages to live according to Dharma, he moves into the renouncer stage of life, samnyasa.6
5
6
Pat Fisher Pg. 77
Gavin Flood Pg. 63
Throughout Asrama, a good Hindu is also observing the laws of Manu. There are three
debts he must pay if he wants to be eligible for Moksa, his ultimate liberation, and avoid Hell.
First, there is Vedic study to the seers. Secondly, he must perform rituals to the Gods. And
finally, he needs to have sons to make funeral offerings to their ancestors. If he is able to follow
through on all stages, Moksa is possible.
In Hinduism, there are five castes of people. The Varnas. The brahmins are the highest
caste, and religious masters and priests. They perform public rituals, drinking a hallucinogenic
drink and making sacrifices into a symbolic fire. The Kshatriyas fall just under priests. They are
the warriors, kings and rulers. It is very important that they set the standard for dharma. They
were responsible for guarding society. Farmers and entrepreneurs are called Vaishyas. The
lowest caste that is allowed to attempt the path to Moksa and live all stages of life are the
shudras, laborers. Below them are the untouchables, people who deal with the “dirty” jobs
making them dirty to those of higher caste.7 People are born into these castes and they cannot be
changed, neither is inter-caste marriage allowed. Women assumed the position of their fathers
and husbands.
All of this way of life is dictated in sacred writings. Vedas. Dharmatic people study the
Vedas to understand how they should be living their life. Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda are
all books of hymns. Atharra Veda is a book with Magic and spells a type of homeopathic remedy
instruction. In these texts cosmic order and social order are explained. The cycle of the world is
broken down into four stages, much like the life cycle. Except instead of working towards more
meaningful life, the world begins in a state of perfect Dharma and deteriorates. Only to start over
again.
7
Pat Fisher Pg. 99
Beyond the basics of Hinduism is the worship of numerous deities, the practice of Yoga,
and myths about love and courage. But at the core of the belief system is Dharma. The seers
taught dharma through the stories of the deities. These were eventually written into Vedas, where
followers learned their place in society and the universe. In the western world, Dharma translates
loosely into “ethics”. It is truly amazing that the oldest known spiritual practices evolved into an
elaborate lesson of ethics.
Should Dharma, be recognized only as Dharma? As Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and
many, many other organized groups practicing spirituality together are recognized as religions,
Hinduism, too, is religion. If it is true that religion teaches people how to live happy and
purposeful lives, and Hindus believe in the Vedas that teach them how to live happy and
purposeful lives, Dharma is a religion. At the Krishna center in Salt Lake City, people organized
for Diwali. They came together as a community to celebrate. Religion answers the intrinsic
questions of our fear-based heart. I ask “Where did I come from?” Dharma answers, “Purusha,
you came from yourself.” I ask, “Where will I go when I die?” Dharma answers, “Samysara,
you will be reborn until you are enlightened, Moska.” I ask, “What is my purpose?” Dharma
answers, “You will find your place written in the Vedas.” Dharma is completely capable of
answering the questions we commonly seek to find within religion.
Works Cited
Church, R. Forrester. Various Definitions of Religion. http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/religion/Definitions.html
Huxley, Aldous. Various Definitions of Religion. http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/religion/Definitions.html
Rumi, Jalalu’l-Din. Various Definitions of Religion. http://web.pdx.edu/~tothm/religion/Definitions.html
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions Ninth Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2014.
Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. New York: Cabridge University Press, 1996.