Sanatana Dharma, Hinduism and India
Sanatana Dharma, which means the eternal or universal tradition, is the ancient name for what we today call the Hindu religion. It refers to a dharma, a teaching, law or truth that exists in perpetuity, that is all-encompassing, embracing the full spectrum of human spiritual experience, culminating in the direct realization of the Divine as one’s own true Self.
Through the course of time and human limitations, Hinduism may have taken on various elements which do not reflect this eternal essence of universal truth. However, the power of Sanatana Dharma continues behind the Hindu tradition, particularly in its Yoga and Vedanta spiritual forms, providing it with a depth, breadth and vitality that perhaps no other spiritual tradition on Earth is able to sustain.
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November 13th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Another excellent insightful article by David Frawley. I hope that Hindus learn and rise to the challenges presented by articles like this.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:40 am
As a Hindu, I find the above article inspirational and I am motivated to study Hinduism at its deepest level. I would like to acquire good translations of the Vedas. Any suggestions? I got a translation of the Rig Veda on the internet by Ralph T.H. Griffith but I found it to be of very poor quality: it contains many ungrammatical and incomprehensible sentences and bad spelling. I think it is important that Hinduism is presented in clear and logical thought and that those of us who engage in debate on its behalf equip ourselves with the necessary tools to this effect. Writers like David Frawley is an example of how Hinduism should be presented.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
An exellent article by Mr David Frawley. He is right in saying that many modern teachers coming from India ‘do not encourage people to study and honor the Hindu traditions’. But then these teachers come from India to escape the heat and raining season there and enjoy good summer weather in the West. They avoid controversy and go back loaded with goodies. Hardly anybody comes during harsh winter months in the West. Hindus themselves should make an effort and try to study their scriptures and traditions and only then they can realise the greatness of their religious philosophy and traditions.
On equating Hindu religion with other religions, somebody put it this way Hindu Dharma Parmo Dharma, Sarva Dharma SamBhaav (Hindu Dharma is Supreme, other religions have feeling of equality). This should be the attitude, I think.
November 19th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
This article was good example of how much we Hindus (and those who write about Hinduism) have to learn and re-learn. Like the misunderstanding of many terms, Sanatana does not mean “universal” but “eternal.” Who knows what is universal or eternal for that matter. But, we take the latter term with a grain of salt. Yes, indeed Hindu Dharma is vast and profound but it is neither universal nor eternal. To enter blindly into these concepts is to enter the dangerous ground of fundamentalism/universalism. It is this mindset that has also created the phony modern yoga movement. Like the Sanskrit word “yoga,” many Hindus misuse Christian terms like “theology,” “God” and “Lord.” Just as there is no Hindu God, Lord or Theology, there are no “practices of devotion, yoga, mantra and meditation.” To the Hindus, devotion is Yoga–Bhakti Yoga; meditation is Raja Yoga. Because of a lack of clarity, we have Hindus praying to “God” (and thus ripe fodder for conversion) and an entire phony yoga movement that believes that “yoga is a physical exercise” (or simply stands for [what should be called] “Hatha Yoga”).
Swami Param
Dharma Yoga Ashram
November 19th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
One other very important point: Hindu(s) came first, “Sanatana Dharma, ” after that. Before a knee-jerk reaction, please pause and think a moment on this one. People, practice, principles.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:57 pm
yes but:
Brahman -> Purusha/prakriti -> vedas -> manu
Thus people absolutely come first for us (humans); but then we must move through the practice of yoga to brahman (tat which is eternal - sanatana). The problem is to believe in principles that are eternally changing (I, we, tribe, nation, species…).
hariaum
November 25th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Pardon me for ignorance, but I find it very difficult to understand
what Sw Param is trying to say. I dont even understand his second post
“Hindu(s) came first, “Sanatana Dharma ” after that.
Can Sw be kind enough to explain what he means by that please?
Reading and re-reading Sw Param’s comments ( first one ) makes me think that he is very nicely avoiding writing anything about the article, but talks something in general, leaving the reader to assume what ever the reader feels. I wonder how does this type of writing help us? Would it not be nice for Sw Param to express his view why he has a doubt
- quote
” who knows what is universal or eternal for that matter”
unquote.
If Sw does not agree with that, simply he can express that and explain that with his reasons to support his view.
But making an evasive comment only help create some confusion in the mind of people like me ( as to why a learned Sw should make a comment like that, and how another learned person like David Frawley could write something without knowing what is what? Also, if we understand what
Sw Param says, then atleast we have a chance to enquire with David Frawley how and why Sw Param’s explanation differs or stands to reason.
This way, a discussion develops helping the participants to learn more, Know more.
Hope we will be lucky to have detailed explanations from Sw Param
namaskaram
November 26th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Very thought provoking. It true that we really aren’t spreading the essence of being a hindu. We are thought time and again that all religions are the same leading to the same source. Its nice to believe it but then we all should make an effort to know the true meaning of hinduism as Mr Frawley says.
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Sushmaji, yes we take it all religions lead to the same source. Thus they are all different pathways to the Supreme Being. Some are straight and troublefree gerenrating mutual respect and understanding while some other are not so straight.
Regards
December 7th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Premji,
I am afraid that ” all religions” lead to the same source is not a very valid statement.
Sanatana Dharma is different from the theology that is being dished out. Unfortunately, most of us stop with the first part of Hinduism - that is temples and prayer.
we do not even try to understand Gita - let alone upanishads etc.
Hinduism - as one starts understanding Vedanta is only guiding us to understand our self. And once one is aware of the self, then life really becomes easy.
It is like once you enter the arena, you are to enjoy it.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Perhaps a better restatement would be all humans are going to the same advaitic end. Thus all paths converge on Truth. But some paths meander about while others are direct. The swastika suggests that the direct route is not necessarily preferable. Thus the indirect route of living life in both the transcendental and material awareness is what is needed as the Iso-Upanishad suggests.
To acknowledge that all humanity goes to one advaitic end implies that the end is not relevant though. If we are all going to fall down, the falling is not important. What is important is the route we take. Thus one route may be to hurt others, be egotistical, ethnocentric, and a book idolater. Another route may be to be ahimsic, satvic, fearless, etc. Now, though the end may be the same, the route is clearly not the same. How does one chose a route?
There are four things we humans want (artha, kama, gyana, moksha). These along with our satvic/rajasic/tamasic innate tendencies guide us to chose routes. As clearly identified in the Gita different religions have different mixes of these that then attract individuals. But as demonstrated by Arjuna’s journey in the Gita, guidance by a transcendental guru/friend/god is fundamental to the choices we make. The teaching is simplified to one of detachment and renunciation in action. Not all religions do this as well as the Gita (many non-a-brahmanic religoins do) thus we need to make the choice to not reject Krishna when he offers us help. Some religions do teach one to reject Brahman. This is a critical difference in route but, still, not in the advaitic end.
Yet we must become more acutely aware that it is by the grace of Brahman that we are given the cultural benefit of learning these things (that others are not given so easily) and as such we have a historical duty to bring the rest of the world to this realization.
hariaum
December 15th, 2007 at 6:57 am
What should be emphasized, is not an exclusivist approach to theology, but a view that although other religions and paths may lead to the Truth, there are other paths that may be easier to understand, comprehend, and realize that Truth.
It should also be remembered, that our version of Truth is often NOT THE SAME AS OTHER religions.
We may simply have to re-think this entire idea of preaching that Hinduism is the same as all other religions.
It’s not and we need to recognize this.
We recognize each and every person’s right and reason to worship as they see fit, but this does not mean they have the Truth.
December 16th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
well said Schwinn.
As a student, thru the text books, we used to read some stories about Francis of Assisi or Jesus etc. All such limited info gave one feeling that even Christianity is “another path” towards ‘God’.
Later when we heard about the proselytizing etc, one used to think that if one wish to follow something else, how can they be stopped. We used to see quotes from Bible which was all love, sypmathy for poor etc. But recent discussions brought to the notice that how little we know about the OT and NT and how much blind belief and myth is there in these too. And not only that, how much of violence is preached in these. And when they talk of One God, they also talk of father, holyspirit etc which is not even known to them…except they just “recite” same words.
Only then one could see how meaningful Hinduism is, how Hinduism is talking about making this very life a meaningful one with complete freedom to understand, know and act , how it make one who is interested to know that “I” am not having any “inadequacy” which in otherwords means liberation from wants - in other words means total freedom, sat-chit-ananda
I think we Hindus need to know a lot more about Hinduism and also atleast a little about other religions . Only then will we be able to face others and explain to them how their knowledge is covered in the sheath of ignorance.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I’ld modify DB:
EVERY human should read ALL the scriptures with an open heart and mind, then bring to bear upon them the full capacity of analytical reasoning and historical consequences; followed by open dialogue to bring out the important details.
Truth is what a true religion worships.
hariaum
December 19th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
pardon me for my ignorance; I could not understand what you mean by ” I’ll modify DB: ”
would you kindly explain pl?
tks
December 20th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
you said “we Hindus need to know a lot more about Hinduism and also atleast a little about other religions,” I simply generalized the construct to Every human, Every scripture.
but not suggest that is your opinion but my own modification of what you said.
hariaum
December 21st, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Navinji,
thank you. But what does the ” DB” stand for?
Also, while reading all the scriptures may be practically difficult, I this these sort of forums do help since we get the gist of the topic since different people read different books and learn/discuss/understand from different people. So we already get something ” instant ” - which need not be “tasty to make us feel comfortable”. But this creates some additional interest in certain topics which then we study further using ref books, thru web etc. In this case the yahoo groups like “Advaitin” etc contribute a lot and help us learn / look at things in a better way.
I am, also, of the opinion that we should become members to atheism vs christianity - a google group. I notice that site is wonderful - very often you come across very interesting debates on evolution, quantum physics, black-hole etc. Also, who can dissect the christianity better than christians turned atheists? also very often muslims too pop in and out with their versions and views and debates become very educative to us. So without reading fully, one gets some idea and important points are brought on table for us to see, think, analyze and understand.
enjoy