1. What is Sreshtha Samaja Nirmanam (building a noble society)?
To make one’s family, community, nation, and world noble. This implies to turn soil into gold (means to create great things out of ordinary), to make earth a heaven, to make earth a divine world, and to sustain Satyayuga forever. Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavanthu is not merely a prayer or a blessing. Sanathana Dharma instructs us that it is also the purpose of life of each of us. Note the divine appeal – Krinwantho Vishwamaryam (to make the whole world noble). Sanathana Dharma has the means to build a great world. It is also a social science. This goal can be attained by promoting Sanathana Dharma around the world.
2. What is Sampoorna Prashna Pariharam (radical problem solving)?
Sanathana Dharma is also a science of radical problem solving. Most of us experience physical, Pranic, mental, intellectual, spiritual, and social problems.
Physical, Pranic, mental, intellectual, and spiritual Dukhas; grief and suffering are Vaiyaktika Prashnas (personal or individual problems).
Samajika Prashnas (social problems) are those that are related to family, community, political, international, finance, employment etc.
Root cause of problems:
The fundamental cause of all problems is Avidya or Ajnanan; ignorance. But in effect, there are 3 main causes of Dukha. These are called Tapatrayam, Dukhatrayam, Kleshtrayam, Durithatrayam, Prashnatrayam. Samoola Prashna Pariharam is solving the problem by solving these root causes. Only then we will be able to find a permanent solution to the problems we face.
- Aadhyatmikam
- Aadhibhautikam
- Aadhidaivikam
A radical solution is possible only when these three causes of Dukha are solved. The term radical solution means to solve the problem from the root.
- Aadhyatmikam – Here the term Aadhyatmikam does not mean spiritual. It means that which arises from ourselves. The grief caused by ourselves. Those that arise from action, habits, character, and culture (tendencies). Lifestyle diseases for example.
- Aadhibhautikam – Those that are caused by others or by the five elements of nature. Dukhas that are caused by family, society, nation, world, virus, bacteria, fungus, animals (snakes, dogs, and predators), birds, aquatic organisms, plants, accidents, falling, vehicles, fire, water, air, other substances (like poison) etc.
- Aadhidaivikam – Suffering caused due to natural disasters (storms, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, Tsunami, floods, phenomena incomprehensible by humans – mysterious phenomena that man hasn’t been able to comprehend so far – or supernatural forces). For example, problems caused by planetary influences, curses (imprecation), evil eye, evil tongue, witchcraft, mental power etc.
3. What are Abhyasas (practices)?
Practice – Anushthanam: those that have to be performed sitting, standing, or lying down at a particular place at a given time.
Adhyatmika Sadhana (spiritual practices) –
- Pranayama,
- Japam,
- Dhyanam,
- Prarthana,
- Swadhyayam (Adhyayana and Adhyapana – Spiritual study and teaching),
- Satsanga
are Adhyatmika Sadhanas or spiritual practices.
Kamya Sadhana –
- Shareerika Sadhana; physical practices or Vyayamiki Vijnan, Yogasana, Yoga Vyayama
- Prana Sadhana; Pranic practices
- Manasika Sadhana; mental practices (Gratitude Practice, Blessing Practice, Happiness practice, Affirmation – Imagination – Visualisation (AIV))
- Bouddhika Sadhana; intellectual practices
- Siddhi Sadhana; for wordly and supernatural powers
Shuddhikarana Sadhana –
cleansing practices or atonement practices (Shuchikarana Kriyas, Sookshma Yoga, Yoga Bandhas (locks), Yoga Mudras (symbolic gestures) etc.)
4. What are Niyamas?
Niyamas are also Nirdeshas (instructions) and Acharas (customs). Niyamas are Hithopadeshas in the Vidhi-Nishedha (assertion-negation) form.
Hithopadesha = Advices that do good to an individual and society
Vidhi Roopam – assertion (Do’s)
Nishedha Roopam – negation (Don’ts)
Examples of Hithopadeshas in Vidhi Roopam,
- Be truthful to everyone.
- Love everyone.
Examples of Hithopadeshas in Nishedha Roopam,
- Do not lie.
- Do not hurt anyone physically, mentally, or verbally.
There are mainly 6 types of Niyamas:
- Swasthya Niyamas (Health laws)
- Vikasana Niyamas (empowerment laws)
- Vijaya Niyamas (Saubhagya Vidya Rahasya – Secret laws of good luck)
- Prashna Parihara Niyamas (Laws of relieving grief and suffering)
- Samajika Niyamas (Smriti Niyamas
- Adhyatmika Niyamas (Sruthi Niyamas)
5. Meaning of the word Aarsha
Related to the Rishis. Derived from the Rishis.
6. Who is a Rishi?
The word Rishi has many meanings. Of those, let me tell you the meaning that is most applicable in this scenario. Rishis are those whom Parameshwara blessed and endowed with his consciousness, strength, wisdom, and spirit.
To bless and endow means to mercifully bestow.
7. What does Veda mean?
Sanathana Dharma describes Veda as the wisdom given by Parameshwara. It is the ultimate knowledge.
Alikhita Vedam – unwritten Vedas – real Vedas are the unwritten body of knowledge that flow from Ishwara through the Guru Paramparas directly and through intuition. It is not based on books. Sanathana Dharma should be learned through Guru Parmaparas.
“Saints are the real custodians of Sanathana Dharma” – Sri Paramhansa Yogananda ji
Likhita Vedam – written Vedas – Some of the secrets of these Vedas were later written down without error by some Rishis as hints, as lampposts to help in the journey ahead. These scriptures constitute the Veda literature or Likhita Veda Granthas.
8. Which are the Veda Sahityas or written Vedas?
- Rig Veda
- Yajur Veda
- Sama Veda
- Atharva Veda
9. Two types of knowledge in the Vedas
Knowledge is classified into 2 types.
Para Vidya – Adhyatmika Vidya (spiritual knowledge, for attaining Nisshreyas)
Apara Vidya – Laukika Vidya (worldly knowledge, for attaining Preyas)
10. Guru
Generally, anyone who imparts any kind of knowledge is called a Guru. Whereas, in Sanathana Dharma, only those who teach or guide us spiritually are called Gurus. A Guru is a teacher who removes the darkness caused by ignorance. He is one who imparts Para Vidya. We will learn about the different types of Gurus later.
11. Parampara
Parampara means genealogy (ancestry). We have two kinds of ancestry.
One is our familial ancestry.
The second is the one created by the choice of a Guru.
We are reborn the moment we receive Deeksha (initiation) from a Guru Parampara that originates from Sree Parameshwara. One who is born again is called Dwijan (twice born). Thus, we become a part of an Aarsha Guru Parampara. That is to say that our first birth is given by our parents and our second birth is given by our Guru. A real Dwijan is one who is reborn through a Guru Parampara.
12. Welfare of the world
There are three types of worlds –
- Sthoola Lokam (physical world)
- Sookshma Lokam (astral world)
- Karana Loka (causal world)
Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavanthu – chanting the Shanti mantra thrice is to pray for peace in all the 3 worlds, and Shanthih is chanted thrice to pray for peace from all 3 kinds of miseries.
13. Who was this given to?
Sanathana Dharma (Vedam) was given to Rishis of India for bestowing it to mankind (all human beings). Probably in those days, they were the only ones who had the patience and ability to receive this. All human beings, irrespective of their religion, caste, sect, color, age, gender, country, period of time, race, language, poor or rich, scholar or illiterate can learn Sanathana Dharma. Because, Sanathana Dharma was given for all human beings. Manava Dharma is another name for Sanathana Dharma. At the very beginning of man’s existence on earth, Parameshwara who is Sarva Shaktha (omnipotent) and Karunya Nidhi (ocean of mercy), took on a human form to bestow this to the Rishis. That is why Parameshwara is described as the founder of Sanathana Dharma as well as the giver of the Vedas.
14. Why is it called Sanathana Dharma?
What are the reasons Sanathana Dharma is described as such?
The reason can be stated in 4 ways:
- It is a Dharma established by Sanathanan (one who is Sanathana)
- It is a Dharma given by Sanathanan
- It is a Dharma through which Sanathanan can be realized
- It is Dharma encompassing the qualities of Sanathanan.