what is dharma? (a presentation based on the yoga philosophy)

What is Dharma?

From Elementary PhilosophyShrii Shrii A’nandamu’rti

Presented by Dada Rainjitananda

Part 1

Dharma

Human Beings

• Human beings are the highest evolved beings.

• They possess clearly reflected consciousness.

Human Beings• They can

distinguish between good and bad with the help of their consciousness…

• …and when in trouble they find a way out with the help of their consciousness.

What people desire

• A life of – Happiness and bliss– Without suffering and misery

• Everyone is in quest for happiness.• It is the nature of people to seek

happiness.

What one does to achieve happiness

• Amass wealth• Achieve power and

position• But the acquisition of

something limited just creates the want for more…

• …and the quest for happiness finds no end.

•At first one is attracted towards physical enjoyments.

What one does to achieve happiness

• It is limitless and infinite• However dignified the

achievement, it fails to set at rest people’s unlimited quest for happiness.

•The hunger for possessing is unending.

What one does to achieve happiness

• The world itself is limited and can not provide infinite objects.

• The greatest worldly acquisition, even if it be the entire globe, would not secure anything of an infinite and permanent character.

What is that infinite, eternal thing that can provide everlasting happiness?

• The Cosmic Entity alone is infinite and eternal.

• It alone is limitless.• The eternal longing of the human

being for happiness can only be satiated by realization of the Infinite.

Everlasting Happiness

• None of the things of the finite and limited world can set at rest the everlasting urge for happiness.

• The acquisition gives rising to further longing.

Everlasting Happiness

• It is only the infinite Cosmic Entity that can provide everlasting happiness.

Dharma

• It means – “nature”, “characteristic” of “property”.

• The dharma of fire is to burn• The dharma of human beings is to

seek the Cosmic Entity.

Human Beings

• The degree of divinity is indicated by the clearly reflected consciousness.

• Every human has two aspects– The animal aspect– The conscious aspect

The animal aspect

• Leaning towards animal life or physical enjoyment.

• Look to eating, drinking and gratification of other physical desires.

• Animals are satisfied with these limited enjoyments as their urge is not infinite. Animals take what they need.

The conscious aspect

• The infinite nature of the human urge for absolute happiness is due to their consciousness alone.

• It is their consciousness which is not satisfied with the limited.

• It is their consciousness which creates the desire for the Cosmic Entity.

Constant duel

• Between the animality and the consciousness.

• The animal aspect pulls towards instant earthly joys and…

• …consciousness pulls towards the Cosmic Entity.

Animal status

• If consciousness lies dormant behind animality, people behave worst then animals.

• They do not deserve the status of human beings.

• They are animals in human form.

Human status

• The longing for the infinite is the innate quality or dharma which characterizes the human status of people.

Happiness

• It is when one gets what one desires.• The consciousness in people seeks the

Infinite, the Cosmic Entity.• People will derive real happiness only

when they attain the Cosmic Entity…• … or get into the process of attaining it.• The dharma of human beings is to attain

Brahma (Cosmic Entity).