Saturday, October 29, 2016

Many Paths of seeking God - Sanatana Dharma / Hinduism

Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Law or Hinduism is a way of realizing Self or God. On the way, there are many paths for achieving this goal. From the lectures of Swami Sarvapriyananda, we can really get a clear understanding of what religions are and what hinduism is. All religions are based on faith and whole of science is based on observation (inferring based on results). Is Hinduism a Religion? Is there only faith or worship of a supreme importance being in Hinduism. The answer is, it is more than a religion, which offers many ways of realizing self or our true nature. The picture below shows how one can realize the Self or Atman or Brahman or God or Jesus or Allah or Krishna or Vishnu or any Supreme importance for any one. This eternal law is for the humanity as a whole. Whatever path you choose, there is space for selfless work, space for devotion or love, space for meditation and space for knowledge.


Gnana or Knowledge alone is sufficient for many, who can comprehend and realize the true nature of a being. Many greats gave commentaries or bhashyas based on the Upanishads (Vedanta) in Veda's / Sruti's (Revelations heard by many Rishis). There are commentaries based on these commentaries, for a common man to understand who they are. When one cannot comprehend, there are other paths in the Vedas, that can be used to achieve this goal.







Meditation or dhyana under the guidance of a competant teacher within the bounds of morality, can help stabilize our thoughts and with practice, our mind will be filled with thoughts that slowly move like clouds in the sky. But, if mind is not pure enough, meditation is difficult. Then comes, devotion/ love to God or selfless work (Nishkama Karma), that can make our minds calm as there is no stress involved. With devotion or love, we generally push all the problems and sufferings as God's problems and thus alleviate the stress. With Selfless work, there is no unnecessary stress as you will not wish anything in return and you will see god in everything (Shiva Gnana Jeeva Seva).

Veda's when understood or learned with Shraddha (Focus and Faith) within the bounds of dharma or morality, can help a person to realize the ultimate reality.

If you want to know about Sanatana Dharma, here is a good article.

http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/hinduism-sanatana-dharma-bharat/

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