What is Hindu Dharma and how it is to be followed

"etavan eva loke 'smin pumsam dharmah parah smrtah bhakti-yogo bhagavati tan-nama-grahanadibhih" meaning: Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate dharma for the living entity in human society. SB 6.3.22. "kaler dosa-nidhe rajan asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet" Meaning:My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom. SB 12.3.51

There are two areas of dharma. One is connected with our body in the material world, and the other is connected with our eternal identity as a spiritual being. Essentially it means one’s duties in either context. To make it simpler I will refer to dharma as a human being with a small d, and Dharma as a spiritual being with a capital D. Now, consider a working mother with a small child. When she goes to work she has to follow the rules of her workplace. Even if she is self-employed she has to follow the government rules that cover her business. While working it is her duty to follow all the rules that govern her work. If she doesn’t there will be consequences. This will be her ‘dharma’ while at work.

Similarly as human beings we have duties that are outlined by rules in scripture. Just as there are different rules depending on where a person works, there are different rules in scripture for the different types of people. There are broad categories that apply to everyone, and then there are specifics depending on the nature of the person. These are their dharma, and following them is dharmic. It is not that one size fits all any more than one shirt will fit everyone, but still every shirt should have two outlets for arms and one for the head. These are the broad categories of a shirt, and the specifics will depend on the individual’s size, needs and budget.

So in this area of dharma scripture outlines the different duties both broad and specific for individuals in civilized society. It is called Varnashram dharma and those not willing to live by it’s codes are excluded from the mainstream of society. Now, when the mother comes home from work to her small child, her duties change and she will now look to the well-being of her child and hopefully there will be a husband involved also. These are more ‘natural’ duties than in her workplace. They are not covered by so many written rules but come from the mother’s desire to do what’s best for her child. It is now her ‘Dharma’ to take care of the child and raise it to maturity.

Often her job is connected to this as it brings in money needed for the child as it grows, but it doesn’t have to be. But while her adherence to ‘dharma’ at work is because she wants to keep the job, her ‘Dharma’ at home is motivated by love. Her relationship as the mother of her child cannot be changed. She can change jobs, but she can’t change being a mother. Similarly as spiritual beings we have an eternal relationship with God as servants. In that context our Dharma is to render loving service to the Supreme Lord. That cannot be changed, whereas our dharma as ‘human beings’ will change according to our birth. Often people adhere to dharma because it’s what the Lord likes, but it doesn’t have to be so, and we can step outside of dharma to follow our intrinsic unchangeable Dharma.

In both cases, scripture is the guide for the correct activities. Scriptures vary from one religion to another but it’s clear that the scriptures based on Vedic testimony are the most comprehensive and Sanatana Dharma is the most fitting name for the rules and regulations that they contain because they are not limited to one time, place, or circumstance, but rather cover the whole human experience and all the spiritual aspects also. The goal of dharma is to provide the best arrangements in any given situation for the people involved, and the rules are given to facilitate that.

The better the rules are followed the better the results will be. One who understands the goals of both dharma and Dharma can adjust some of the rules if the situation warrants it. This is similar to any society. Sometimes it’s okay to break the speed limit or park in a no parking spot. But the reason obviously has to warrant breaking the rules. The rules are meant to make life better for everyone, but if a person is dying and breaking a rule will save their life without endangering others, it can be done if following the rule defeats the purpose of the rule.

There are many many many injunctions in shastra which uphold dharma. Just as there are many many laws in society. Lawyers give advice on what’s best with legal aspects and Brahmanas give advice on what’s best with dharmic aspects. But a mother who loves her child doesn’t need a lawyer to do what’s best for her child. It comes naturally from the heart. Similarly when our love for the Lord is manifest there is no need for Brahmanas to tell us what to do. It’s a natural activity and our heart will guide us because it’s our Dharma.

But, and it’s a big but, that love has to properly manifest for that to happen. Until then we do need others who love the Lord to teach us how develop that love. They don’t have to be Brahmanas because it’s a different area to the dharma of material life. They just need to know how to develop our love for the Lord which is our eternal Dharma, not our temporary dharma based on the body. When a foolish person imagines they love the Lord and that He is guiding them from within then there can be chaos, so it’s not something to take lightly or imagine into existence. If ever a person claims that the Lord in their heart is telling them what Dharma or dharma are, and they are contradicting the statements of shastra and previous Acharyas they are bogus.

When we talk of dharma, artha, kama, and moksha, they are the guiding principles for a happy and prosperous material life leading to liberation. First are the shastric rules of dharma to be followed, they will naturally lead to economic prosperity, which will facilitate sense-gratification (according to shastra) and then the renunciation of that and the pursuit of Dharma, our eternal relationship with the Lord which gives liberation from the bondage of the material world.

At present there is no real scope to follow dharma as varnashram, the social order on which it depends, is non-existent. However there is a golden opportunity to follow Dharma, introduced by the Golden Avatar, Gauranga - Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. If enough people take it up then dharma will once again be re-established in a reversal of the normal progression.

The term Dharma is defined in Mīmā?sa as:—Dharma is that which leads to the highest common good (?reyas) [and, is distinguished by Vedic injunctions - vidhi]. Dharma is “right living” defined by the practice of universal ethics and personal morals. The Mahabharata defines Dharma:–dhāra?ād dharma ityāhu? dharmo dhārayate prajā? | ya syād dhāra?a samyukta? sa dharma iti ni?caya? || The word Dharma is derived from dhāra?a or sustenance; dharma sustains society. That which has the capacity to sustain is indeed dharma. (M.B. Karna Parva 69:58)

“Dharma” cannot be known through empirical means such as cognition. It can be known only either through intuition or through an impersonal source of knowledge. The problem with relying on reason or intuition is that individuals will come to differing conclusions about what the ultimate nature of the “Common Good” is. There are endless controversies on most if not all ethical issues by “experts” who take one side or the other. The best and most universal source of Dharma therefore, would be an “impersonal” source such as the Vedas.

What is Dharma? The science of conduct, the systematized principles according to which one should act. Ethical science is a relative science — relative to the individual and one's surroundings and circumstances. The purpose of morality is to bring about happiness for the maximum number of people by creating harmony. Harmony between individuals of a family, between families of a community, between communities that live together in a nation. Harmony between nations that make up humanity. Harmony between humankind and the environment and other creatures that share our earth. And harmony between earthlings and the inhabitants of other worlds.

Where there is harmony there is happiness, disharmony cause unhappiness. The ultimate object of morality is to bring about universal happiness. The underlying principle of Dharma is the recognition of the unity of the Self and the diversity of the not-self. Examples of Dharma:- Ijyayācarā damo’himsā dānam svādhyāya karma ca | Aya? ca paramo dharmo yad yogena ātma dar?anam || (Manu 2:7) Altruism (ijyacara), control of mind, non-violence, charity, self-study, work, realisation of the Atman by means of Yoga —

All these are Dharmas. adroha? sarvabhūte?u karma?ā manasā girā | anugraha?ca dāna? ca stā? dharma sanātana? || The Eternal Duty (Sanātana Dharma) towards all creatures is the absence of malevolence towards them in thought, deed or word, and to practice compassion and generosity towards them. (MB Vana Parva 297;35) satyam damas tapa? ?auca? santo?a?ca k?amārjavam | j?āna? ?amo dāna? e?ā dharma? sanātana || Sanatana Dharma consists of truth, discipline, austerity, purity, contentment, forgiveness and honesty, knowledge, peacefulness and generosity. (Garuda Purana 1:213:24)