Dharma

I beg your sincere apologies for taking your time while you read this...
Thought of writing something on Dharma "Closest world in english may be.. religion".

According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata "Dharma upholds both this-worldly and other-worldly affairs"
Dharma is a set of beliefs and practices which gives meaning to one's life.
When we say meaning to one's life it means 'it take takes its followers towards the ultimate goal of Humanity which is considered as Salvation and for those who don't believe in this : Dharma guides you to lead a happy, Saatvik (pure),contended and devoted life.
It is very unfortunate that we people at time cannot understand the true meaning of religion and start descriminating god's beautiful creation (Humans) on the basis of their religion.
Whereas all the religions guide us towards universa; brotherhood, towards one common power that belongfs to the divine almighty...who is omnipresent,formless,omnipotent and eternal.
"Consider others as yourself" This extract is present in Luke's Gospel and is believed to said by Jesus, but the same and I repeat "Exactly the SAME" quote comes from Dhamapda, the sayings of Buddha some 600 years before Jesus.

"Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling"
Words of Apostle paul (Early Christian Missionary)were same as Buddha's last words "Work out your own salvation with diligence" some 600 years apart.his shows that there are many paths to the same Goal.
In Srimadbhagwadgeeta god said "Arjun even those devotees who endowed with faith,worship other gods (with some interested motive) worship me alone,though with a mistaken approach"
A saint gave a very beautiful ex. of this
"Like water that descends from the skies and flow into the seas,
offerings to all gods, reach the supreme Deity"

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha
This popular hindi dictum (Dharma protect those who protect it)is a very interesting statement.
Dharmo rakshati = Dharma Protects. If we follow the principles of Dharma then we are assured of this freedom.
Rakshitaha = Protect it.It says the CONCEPT of Dharma itself needs protection too.
Now I know I am asking you to protect that whose protection you are seeking.
We should always be careful that this governing Concept of life should never be in jeopardy.
This phrase is almost similar to the fact that we need to protect our house from damages so that the house can protect us from natural calamities.

Ramakrishna Paramhansa discouraged this dogmatism witha very beautiful .
A no. of blind men came to see an elephant. Some one took them to elephant.
The blind men ask what is elephant like??? and they began to touch its body.
One of them said,"Its like a pillar" That blind man had only toched his leg."
Another man said "The elephant is like a husking basket" This fellow has only touch its ears.
Similarly, he who touched its trunk said its cylindrical tube need to water plants.
The person toched on the belly said its like a big urn pot.
Since they are able to n see some part of the elephant and you are not able to see the whole elephant.
The same thing applies to god and religions.
No one see him completely.

Oh divine soul please give us the wisdom so that all of us start believing in the true religion of manking which is Universal Brotherhood and the true God "Nirankar".

Rgds,
Gaurav