Light Of Life

Author(s): Padmasagarsuri
Publisher: Arunoday Foundation

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all such sinful activities as stealing and immoral activities were totally absent in society. We look at only the external form of Dharma; and we do not realize and visualize its internal form. We do not realize Dharma on the plane of love; but we, for the most part, accept Dharma from the worldly point of view; and for many people Dharma is but an illusion and an aimless rambling. This kind of Dharma gives no satisfaction to us; nor does it help others. True Dharma is the foundation for an ideal social organization; and is the fittest means to keep off anarchy and disorder. If children are brought up in accordance with the ideals of Dharma and if lofty ideals are inculcated into them, there will emerge a society in the future which will be free from all things that go against Dharma. No religion preaches that people should commit thefts; commit violence; should commit sin; should act ignobly; should commit murders or that they should drink liquors. Look into the core of any religion in the world; and you will find that there lies at the core of every religion the ideal of a sublime culture: Hence, Dharma means the acceptance of sublime ideals; and the realization of the essential qualities of the soul. Lord Mahaveer has not given it any label.
Lord Mahaveer has said that anyone who acts according to those sublime ideals becomes a Dharmatma. The word Dharma has been derived from the root Dhri. It means, "Dharanath Dharma uchyate" A Dharmathma is one who accepts and acts upon the essential qualities of the soul. "Durgati Pratata pranat Dharayathi Ithi Dharmah." Dharma is that which prevents you from falling into ignoble thoughts and activities and which restrains you from following the path of evil. The organization that can restrain men from the path of evil can result only from Dharma. Therefore, Dharma has has been deemed absolutely essential to secure propriety and a disciplined way of life.
In olden days people used to be They never swerved from the path of
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absolutely honest. Dharma even if it