Dharma: Pujya Gurudev

Dharma: The Righteous Way of Life =Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

It is essential to follow the path of dharma to achieve abiding peace and happiness in life. People wrongly confuse dharma with ritualistic religion. In fact conscious observance of religious rituals inspires us to imbibe true attributes of dharma and eliminate from our minds, hearts, speech and acts the evil tendencies and practices. Dharma, when rightly practised gives permanent peace and happiness. It provides right solutions to conflicts and averts crises. Life becomes more and more joy-filled and purposeful. Prominent Indian seers and practitioners of the Art of Life discovered a sunlit path of righteous living through which life could be lived happily and peacefully.

They termed it dharma (path of righteous living) with its ten main attributes or virtues. Any person who practises these ten virtues attains true happiness and also makes others happy. These features are: dhriti kshama damo"stute yai shaucamindri nigrah dhividya satyakrodho dashakam dharma lakshanam Meaning: "Patience, forgiveness, self-control, non-stealing, cleanliness and purity, restraint over the senses, wisdom, knowledge, truth and calmness are the ten attributes of dharma" These are not only the attributes of dharma but also of humanism and are the cornerstones for bringing about world peace. To consider anyone who practices these ten features as a follower of a particular organised ’religion’ would be a narrow-minded attitude.

They are not confined to one sect or religion but have a universal import for all humanity. These virtues cannot be brushed aside as blind beliefs because they have been tested rationally and practically; they have proved to be eternally operating principles of noble human life. All religions, sects, prophets, saints and mahatmas have stressed the practice of these virtues for well-being of individuals, societies and humanity as a whole. Let us discuss them in some detail. Dhriti (patience): Man cannot live without activity. The development of an individual, the maintenance of a family, social service, etc. is dependent on action. If man had not been active, he would not have progressed.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma