Dharma

Dharma is the cosmic code. It is the underlying design of both the living and the non-living. It applies universally and should not be understood as religion. It is the essence of the cosmic thought.

Dharma for the Non-Living

Dharma applies to both living and non-living. For the living, it is a set of principles for thinking and conduct, and for the non-living, it represents the properties. It applies to positions, processes and the material.

The knowledge of elements about special principles that create the matter by general and special combinations. The matter forms from the manifestation of six types of verses. These six verses result in substance, quality, action, generality, particularity, and inherence. These verses combine with the other verses having the same Dharma or different Dharma, and they also have their own attributes.

The activities of breathing, yawning, sneezing, trembling and moving upwards etc. are the properties of Prana along with hunger and thirst.

The Dharma of the earth is to hold, the Dharma of the sun is to give light and heat, and air is to flow throughout the atmosphere. All of them always follow their Dharma.

Dharma for the Living Beings

Dharma is what one ought to think, a code of conduct, duty, morals, and ethics by which one should think and act to achieve the aim of Purushartha. It is a code of thinking conforming to one's duty and one's nature. Dharma is that which is indicated by the Vedas as conducive to the highest good.

That which directs and leads to the attainment of excellence in the world; that shows the pathway to the cessation of grief and pains in toto, and gets the one to ultimate liberation thereafter, is Dharma.

Principles of Dharma

Dharma is not fixed, but it is variable depending on the role, situation and altruism, but it is guided by some fixed principles.

• Dhṛti (Dhruti): Act with determination, patience and firmness.
• Kshama: Forgiveness is an attribute of a person who has a higher understanding.
• Damah: Control of mind when functioning is not affected by attractions, greed, attachment and fear.
• Asteyam: Non-stealing exhibited by honesty and integrity.
• Shouch: Purity indicating internal and external cleanliness of body, mind and surroundings.
• Indriya Nigrah: Control of sensory organs by not allowing unwanted stimuli to create disturbances.
• Dhi: The function of Intellect reflected in the processing capability of thought.
• Vidya: Learning - an attitude to learn takes one far in life.
• Satyam: Truthfulness - being truthful to self and others, close to reality.
• Akrodho: Control of anger or composure.

Ahimsa: Non-violence means not harming anyone without a reason, and it embodies a peaceful nature and tolerance. 'Live and let live' is another expression for 'Ahimsa'.

Artha

Artha is the foundation of Dharma. It is the accumulation of the material resources required to fulfil one's worldly obligations. In generating a conscious livelihood, we should be aware of the implications and consequences of whatever we do. The virtues of Dharma apply to the accumulation of Artha as well.

We often wonder how much is too much. An example is the mobile phone that we use in daily life; when the battery percentage goes down, we begin to worry. To charge the phone, we may carry a power bank or a charger but not a generator. The same principle applies to money. It is a security system, similar to a power bank. The means to earn money is a charger.

Practices for Conscious Artha

• Minimising the wants: If we restrict unnecessary objects that we purchase, our income would be sufficient for our living, and we would also not cause a burden on Earth's resources and environment.
• Actions at work should not hurt others: Our work may require us to lie or hoodwink the framework, but this should strictly not be done. The guilt keeps accumulating.
• Resist corruption: Any profession requiring the collection of wrongful money for oneself or for higher-ups may require conscious action on your part to resist it.
• Practice charity: As householders need to support Sanyasis, a part of the income should be spent on charity to help someone smile.
• Avoid social dissatisfaction: Some projects may cause social upheavals; even a flashy lifestyle can cause heartburn. One should live in harmony with society.
• Use positions of power responsibly: A position of power is a responsible one that enables us to help others. Only lucky people get an opportunity to help others.

Kama

Kama is the art of fulfilment. It is satiation of one's desires, and it also helps in learning. Desires should not be the sole purpose of one's life and should not hijack the aim of living. Desires need to be aware of, analysed and prioritised.

Desire invariably leads us to focus on the results. Karma (action) is of two kinds, Pravrtti and Nivrtti. The first kind of activity leads to progress, and the second kind leads to perfection.

The Path of Nishkam Karma

The action should be performed without attachment or craving for results. Action must be performed as Dharma, a duty and moral activity, not out of craving for results or material rewards, and without regard for Dharma alone. This idea of craving-free, dharma-driven action has been called Nishkam Karma in the Bhagavad Gita.

In the Upanishad, Isa states, "Act and enjoy with renunciation; do not covet." This is the highest expression of Kama - the ability to enjoy life's experiences while remaining unattached to outcomes.

Moksha

Consciousness is the root of the cosmos. It is the code that continuously evolves. The souls are like active nodes in the larger computational architecture. Planet Earth is like a school for souls to descend, experience and learn.

The essential factor here is karma; within the limits of physical reality, we learn from the conclusions drawn from our experiences. As we learn and evolve, we lose interest in experiences we already had and seek new ones. At one point, when the learning is sufficient, the need for school is over.

Liberation Through Meditation

Gaining liberation from the cycle of births and deaths is the ultimate aim of spiritual evolution. It is not because of life's challenges, but because better experiences in college and real life await.

What happens in meditation? It is not a religious exercise. It is a gymnasium of the soul. The mind achieves coherence, and its solution-finding capability increases. When it is able to process information to the extent that it no longer needs physical experiences (Karma), then it becomes free of the physical requirements.

The soul achieves yoga with Brahman – the universal mind – and can access all the information. Life planning should focus on the soul's objectives, not the body's. In Gita, action to achieve the above is a prime duty of a person.

Moksha represents the successful pursuit of Purushartha following Dharma through Kama and assisted by Artha.