Miscellaneous - Religion   

Advocacy of Dharma

CHENNAI : Dharma is the cornerstone of the Vedic tradition, which is a way of life. The Vedas are the primary scriptures (Sruti) and sages have written several works to explain them to the laymen, which are known as Smriti. Besides these texts, emphasis is laid on following the elders who are well versed in the scriptures as they embody these teachings by virtue of upholding them in day-to-day life.

In his discourse, Sri K.V. Seshadrinatha Sastrigal said advocacy of Dharma would confer the state of eternal bliss. Dharma is not an irrevocable prescription given at the time of creation of this world for the edification of mankind but a dynamic principle, which has to be applied according to the age and clime. Scriptures themselves speak of Yuga dharma because what was applicable to the Krita yuga cannot be prescribed in this Kali yuga. This is not only due to the fact that there is declension in Dharma with the progression of the four Yugas (Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali) but also because human beings have become weaker with the passage of time that they are unable to undertake penance, austerities and sacrifices which were the norm in the earlier eras. But there is a silver lining in the cloud because the scriptures have prescribed easier practices to uphold Dharma to suit the nature of this age.

Advocacy of Dharma involves acceptance of the scriptural guidelines without reservations because the scriptures explain the Ultimate Reality, which cannot be known by means of perception and inference (based on reasoning) with which objective knowledge is gained.

This can be seen from the basic premise of Advaita, which states that the world we experience with our sensory faculties is illusory and that the Supreme Reality (Brahman), which is eternal, is beyond the ken of the senses and the mind.

Hence it is only through the scriptures that one can realise Brahman. So, it is not possible to gain spiritual knowledge (that the Vedas elaborate) through reasoning; faith in the scriptural teachings is very important.

To the honest spiritual seeker his faith will be corroborated by direct experience if he adheres to Dharma sincerely.

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