________________
.... ĀTMĀ
The Self....
APPENDIX - 4 Dharma - Jñana - Darsana
The word 'Dharma'- some aspects :
1. Ordinarily it means 'Pious Act'. 2. Dharma-Duty: towards others, elders, dependents, sub-ordinates,
society, country, etc. 3. Dharma- Nature :
Nature of fire is to burn. Nature of water is to cool. Nature of soul is conscience, sentient, immortality, infinite knowledge, perception, energy, bliss, longs to be purified, to rise
upward to Mõkşa-Eternal Salvation. 4. Dharma- Religion: That saves one from sinking in the temporal
ocean of births and deaths (Samsar). Religion consists of Dāna, Sheel, Tapa and Bhāva. (Charity, Chastity, Penance and Intention).
The highest Charity is to give freedom from fear-the fear of death, injury, torture, hurt, oppression, etc. Chastity means complete control of impure desires of five senses and mind including celibacy. Penance is of twelve kinds to purify the soul from all Karmic energies. Intention means all the above mentioned three should be with the
sole aim/intent of achieving the spiritual zenith. 5. Dharma- Spiritual : Samyak jñāna, Darśana and Caritra (Right &
True Knowledge, Faith and Conduct) 6. Dharma-Sramana Dharma (monkhood) having ten folds:
i) Kşamā : forgiveness, forebearance. ii) Mārdava : humbleness, politeness, humility and courtesy *iii) Ārjava : frankness, straight forwardness, deceitlessness. iv) Mukti : freedom from desires, greed and expectations. v) Tapa : penance of twelve kinds. vi) Samyama : to stop all inflow of karmas. vii) Satya : beneficial, pleasant and well - thought truth, avoiding
untruth.
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