World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 864

by momentary impulses and feelings. Vaidikadharma rightly points out and distinguishes human beings from animals on the basis of dharma, that it, power of discrimination. Otherwise, animals and human beings are common in the respect of food, sleep, fear and sex (āhāra-nidrābhayamaithunam ca sāmānyametad pașubhirnarāṇām). In case if human beings, it is dharma - power of discrimination, duty consciousness , and righteousness,morality that is an added peculiar trait. The dignity, culture of the mankind lies in the exercise of this faculty.When this wondrous equipment is neglected, human being is bound to deteriorate to the status of an animal and suffer the consequences thereof. Sometimes, our actions are based on feelings rather than guided by discrimination. Such action, depending upon the whims and fancies of feelings are detrimental and dangerous to our welfare and prosperity. Dharma as the righteous path offers the technique of development of this faculty and leaves to man to make or mar himself and his progress. It helps us to keep our intellect alert and apply its faculty of discrimination to the choice of right action at every moment of our life. Being guided by proper discrimination, sach actions are dynamic and productive and they bring about and cheer in the society. Thus, the Dharma is that principle which keeps human beings above animalism,sustains him in his humanity and supports him in his progress towards the Divine.
The main aim of religion is establishment of unity of all existence.Vaidikadharma strives for the integration of personality, which reconciles individual to his/her own nature, his/her fellow men and women and the supreme Self or Spirit. The reality which is to realized through religion is, the soul of the truth, delight of life, the fullness of peace and immortality (Satyātmaprānarāmam ānandam, śāmtisamrddham amstam.Taittirīya Upanisad. VI.2.].Religion means re-uniting oneself with original source of creation, i.e., Superme Self or Consciousness or God. Upanisads proclaim that the pure consciousness is a source of all these things, living and non-living, everything is sustained by this and going to merge in it in the end.
[Yato vā imāni bhūtānijāyante, yena jātāni jīvanti, yat prayantyabhisamvisanti, tad vijijñāsasva tad brahma-Taittirīya Upanisad, Bhrguvallī, 1.1]. Swami Vivekananda summarizes essence of Vaidikadharma in nutshell as 'each soul is potentially divine. The goal of human life is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature external and internal. Do this either by work or worship or psychic control or philosophy by one, or more, or all of these- and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas,rituals or books or temples or forms are but secondary details'[ Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol.I. p.124]. Religion as a path is a definite science of living. By faithfully adhering to its precepts and following its practical suggestions, one can make his/
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