"Dharma"
(Pronounced 'Dharm’, not Dharmaa),
The word "Dharma", as I understand,
is translated in two different ways.
One
common translation of the word 'Dharma' is:
"Dhaarayatay
iti Dharmah" धारयते इति धर्मः
(Whatever
we adopt is called Dharma.)
Meaning
whatever ideology or philosophy, including the field of action we choose to
adopt, is called Dharm. That is why an ‘adopted’ son or daughter in India
is called ‘Dharm-Putra or Dharm-Putri’. An adopted brother or sister by choice
is known as ‘Dharm-Bhai or Dharm-Behan’.
Since the
marriage partners are also chosen, accepted and ‘adopted’ through the cultural,
social and religious or legal ceremonies, hence, the wife is also known as ‘Dharm-Patni.
But the
word ‘Dharm’, by itself, is commonly understood to be connected with one’s spiritual
ideology; adopted by birth or by choice.
By this
definition, usually Dharma is translated in English as ‘Religion’, even though
it may not define its real and complex meaning.
By this
definition, a person’s beliefs and understanding of – what is God, and His
relationship with the man and the universe, the meaning and purpose of human
life, and ways and means to achieve that goal- defines his or her Dharma.
Since most common religions have different views on these
basic questions, people choose to adopt different Dharmas or religions.
2.
In Vedic context, however, ‘Dharma’ means one’s
‘Constitution’ or the ‘Basic Nature’.
For example, ‘Dharma’, the constitution or the basic nature
of fire, is to burn and to provide heat and light. If fire does not burn, if it
does not provide heat and light, it cannot be called fire.
There is a common phrase in Hindi: Aag ka dharm hai jalaana,
aur paani ka dharm hai sheetal aur shudh karna”.
(Dharm or Constitution of fire is to burn and of water is to
cool and clean)
Everything in nature has its own constitution; its own basic
nature or Dharm. Earth’s Dharm or constitution is to hold everything down and
provide support and stability while sky’s dharm is vastness and limitlessness.
Tree’s dharm is to provide, and Air’s constitutional dharm is to sustain life.
According to Vedas, every living and non-living thing in the
universe has its own constitutional nature or dharma.
Snake’s and scorpion’s dharm or nature is to bite and dog’s
dharm is to protect.
What is the ‘Constitutional Dharma’ of humans?
Obviously – it’s ‘Humanity’.
Now, according to the first meaning, which is ‘to adopt’,
there can be many different Dharms or religions for one to choose from, and to
adopt.
But by the second definition, there can be only ‘one’
constitutional Dharma of all human beings; and that is ‘Humanity’.
What is ‘Humanity?’
The constitutional Dharma or basic nature of human beings is
to ‘love and render service’.
It is true that birds and most animals also provide love,
security and service to their new-born and young ones but their services are
only for a limited time; until their young ones are able to find their own food
and take care of themselves. Humans on the other hand, tend to love and render
services to their children, parents, relatives, friends, communities and even
strangers for all their lives. We even constantly try to provide services to
our own senses. Whereas the animals and birds render their love and services
only to provide food and security to their families, we humans render services
to our own senses and of the loved ones for pleasure and entertainment purposes
too.
So basically, whatever we do or create is to render services
to ourselves or those around us. That is the basic nature or constitution of
human beings; that is the real and only Dharma of mankind.
Just like if the fire does not burn or provide heat and
light, then it’s going against its Dharma, because that is what it should do.
Similarly, if we do not render service to others, then we
are going against our Dharma; the Dharma of Humanity.
According to one ancient Sanskrit saying:
‘Seva Parmo-Dharmah’ सेवा परमो धर्मः
‘Seva (service) is the supreme Dharma’
‘Rajan Sachdeva’
