Humanism of Haribhadra

Author(s): Christian Lindtner
Publisher: Z_Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_1_002105.pdf and Nirgranth_Aetihasik_Lekh_Samucchay_Part_2

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Jambu-jyoti
or dharmānuṣṭhāna, and dharmayoga (AP 27.8; YBD 3) and the like, are typical. The best translation of dharma is thus duty or virtue, officium or virtus.
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Christian Lindtner
2. There are two kinds of dharmic activity, moral practice (karma), and scientific knowledge (jñāna, saṁjñāna) (ŚVS 1 ff; DB 1.2-3). Corresponding to this, one may also speak of two kinds of yoga, or even of three kinds of yoga (yogatraya), namely the activity of mind, language, and body (DB 6.12). From various other points of view, there are three or eight kinds of yoga, etc. Still, yoga is basically an activity that leads to mokṣa: mukkheṇa joyaṇão jogo savvo vi dhammavāvāro (YV 1).
3. Corresponding to the two kinds of dharma and yoga, there are two kinds of results (phala, DB 7.5). Both are satisfactory (sukha), only in differing degrees. The first consists in the happiness of rebirth in svarga, the second in the bliss of nirvāņa (DB 4.83 & 8.64). The latter is a yoga without any further activity, i.e. yoga as a result, as opposed to yoga as an instrumental activity, or means (DB 8.67). It is also defined as apavarga (DB 2.77-78), or as Brahman (YB 506), as purification, viśuddhi (ŚVS 11). This is the ultimate goal of all human endeavour : nirvanaphalam atra tattvato' nusṭhānam (DB 6.19). In other words, yoga is mokṣahetu (YB 3 & 301), as is dharma. When it is said that ahimsa brings about svarga and mokṣa (AP 30.2), ahimsa then means moral and intellectual "innocence". As such, ahimsa is the best form of activity, it is the very essence of dharma, or yoga.
Verily, dharma is one, the difference between practice and theory being but a difference of purity (śuddhi, viśuddhi). Purity, again, is omniscience (AP 30.2).
The double aspect of one and the same Dharma is also suggested by a celebrated verse in the Bhagavadgitā 5.5cd (cf. 3.3), a scripture to which Haribhadra frequently alludes:
ekam samkhyam ca yogam ca yaḥ pasyati sa paśyati
Understandably, Haribhadra praises the dharmamāhātmya (YDS 163). Considering this fact (according to the consensus of sarvaśāstra), no benefit in this world is as great as that of dharmadeśanā, and dharma is our only true friend, dearer than life (YDS 58 ff). Normal life is like a great disease, mahävyädhi, Haribhadra often reminds us.