7 Core Principles of Sanatan Dharma Everyone Should Know
When people hear the word Sanatan Dharma, they think it refers to a religion or tradition, but it has a broad meaning and various Sanatan Dharma principles. In Sanskrit, “Sanatan” refers to eternal, ancient, venerable, or unshakeable. Sanatan dharma is not only a ritual to be performed, but Sanatan beliefs are related to the responsibility that a human has to perform in their life. Sanatan dharma is a core value that gives shape to the life of Indian people and teaches them to live with ethics and values.
There are many myths spread in society about Sanatan Dharma, and people resist understanding it, while the reality is that it teaches a way of living that brings peace and prosperity to a person. This is why understanding its core principles is important today to live a better and meaningful life. Sanatan Dharma is not just a religion but a way of life
Also Read : Wisdom of Sanatan Dharma
Dharma: The Principle of Righteous Duty
Dharma refers to “duty”, “religion” or “religious duty”, but has a deeper meaning. The word comes from the Sanskrit root “dhṛ,” which means “to sustain” or “that which is integral to something” in Sanatan Dharma.
Dharma is different from “religion” as religion refers to following a god or goddess and doing their worship in different ways. But the person’s dharma consists of duties that sustain them according to their innate characteristics, which are both spiritual and material, generating two corresponding types.
According to Sanatan beliefs, Dharma is important in everyday life for family, society, and work. People following dharma provide the moral framework for actions, that is, karma to gain positive results, as karma without dharma may lead to negative consequences.
Karma: The Law of Action and Consequences
According to Hinduism core values, Karma refers to the action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, karma refers to a principle of cause and effect in which individuals’ intent and actions influence their future. Actions with good intentions or good deeds contribute to good karma and happier rebirths, while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and worse rebirths. Just like the famous proverb “As you sow, so shall you reap,” means your actions will determine the consequences you experience in your journey of life.
Karma Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita refers to the path of selfless action and emphasizes performing one’s duties without attachment to the outcomes. Means do good karma and don’t expect any result from it. It encourages dedicating actions to a higher purpose rather than personal gain, which leads to spiritual liberation, meaning moksha, which is a dream of every person as they gain freedom from the cycle of life.
Rebirth (Punarjanma) and the Eternal Soul (Atma)
It is scientifically proven that energy is never destroyed. Soul, energy, or atma does not disperse after the physical body has been destroyed. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism believe in the concept of rebirth, where the soul is believed to be eternal and undergoes a cycle of births and deaths until it achieves spiritual liberation. The rebirth of the soul is dependent upon the karma and dharma performed by the soul during life, which is also known as atma or jiva.
In Sanatan Dharma philosophy, it is believed that one’s actions and deeds in previous lives shape the conditions and circumstances of the next life. Living a good life with kindness and generosity, and doing good deeds, will define the path of a new, happy life after death.
Moksha: The Ultimate Liberation
Moksha refers to the liberation from the cycle of rebirth, or means freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. This is achieved through following the principles of Sanatan Dharma, by spiritual practice, self-realization, and the cessation of attachment to material desires. The goal of human life, according to Sanatan Dharma, is getting moksha and then being merged in Brahma Tattva, where every soul gets peace and takes rest after getting moksha
The path that is followed to get moksha is Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, and Raja Yoga, which help a soul to achieve the state of eternal bliss and joy, characterized by the absence of sorrow, suffering, and limitation. Moksha is the end of all suffering and pain, both physical and mental, offering a state of eternal peace. After attaining moksha, one can experience the ultimate state of oneness and unity with the divine, which is the purpose of human life.
Ahimsa: The Practice of Non-Violence
Ahimsa is a spiritual and social value of nonviolence, according to the Sanatan Dharma philosophy, that applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Ahimsa is inspired by the belief that all living beings have the spark of the divine spiritual energy; therefore, when you hurt another being, you are hurting yourself or the divine soul. Ahimsa is also related to the notion that all acts of violence have karmic consequences, that if you hurt someone will lead to pain and suffering in the future journey of your life.
The Ahmisa is supported worldwide to achieve global peace and make an individual the best human being. Amhisa is supported by various saints like Buddha, Mahavira, and Mahatma Gandhi. They believe that every living being deserves kindness and care, and we should avoid violence, as by doing that, we are not just hurting the individual but also becoming a reason for self-pain and struggle.
Satya, the commitment to truth
Satya refers to a kind of virtue found across them, a Sanskrit word that is translated as “truth” or “essence” into contemporary English. It refers to truth in thought, word, and deed. Satya is an important key point that helps in personal growth, the Dharma and karma of a soul. Also, it helps in gaining moksha. Without following the path of satya and ahimsa, an individual never merges with the divine soul.
It not only helps in gaining eternal peace but also represents an individual as a good being that can be trusted by others and has an important place in society. The path of satya is not easy in today’s time, as people have to lie to earn their living and feed their families. The role, power, and importance of the satya can be understood from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, that is completely based on how satya defines the karma in our life.
The Concept of Purusharthas: Four Aims of Life
Purushartha is a Sanskrit word that means “object(ive) of men”. It is a key concept in Hinduism that refers to the four proper goals or aims of a human life. The four puruṣarthas are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values), and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values, self-realization). Purushartha is a balanced life as per Sanatan Dharma.
Purushartha impacts human life by promoting a balanced and meaningful existence. It helps in ethical decision-making, which gives self-satisfaction to the person. By taking the path of Purushartha, individuals can experience fulfillment, purpose, and a sense of harmony in their lives. It guides one’s choices and life path, which gives them happiness and serves society. Purushartha is also followed to have moral and ethical values in an individual’s life that lead to a long and healthy life of the soul.
Conclusion
The principles of Sanatan Dharma teach the way of life. That gives mental, emotional, and spiritual peace to the person. When a person follows dharma, truth, and purushartha in life, it will pave the way for moksha, that is the ultimate goal of a human life or soul.
If an individual focuses on Dharma and Karma, then they will never blame others for their pain and struggle, as karma has the power to change the future of a person and can make it bright and happy. This is the Sanatan Dharma philosophy that teaches the way of happy living, which makes Earth the best place to live.
