| The term Sanatana Dharma, definitely grounded and distinctively Hindu, belonging to Bharatavarsha, unites under its fold the most divergent forms of thought and philosophies, yet exclusive enough to leave outside it forms of thought which are non-Hindu. Its directives are towards building up a character - pious, dutiful, strong, self reliant, upright, righteous, gentle and well-balanced - a character which will be that of a good man and a good citizen.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>''"Hindu is a descriptive term for the people from the other side of river Sindhu and first used by Arabs in fifth century AD."''<ref>Pandey, A and Navare, A. V. (2018) ''Paths of Yoga : Perspective for Workplace Spirituality.'' Springer International Publishing Inc.</ref></blockquote>Hinduism is also more accurately reflected by its Samskrit name, Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana Dharma eternally holds All together. | | The term Sanatana Dharma, definitely grounded and distinctively Hindu, belonging to Bharatavarsha, unites under its fold the most divergent forms of thought and philosophies, yet exclusive enough to leave outside it forms of thought which are non-Hindu. Its directives are towards building up a character - pious, dutiful, strong, self reliant, upright, righteous, gentle and well-balanced - a character which will be that of a good man and a good citizen.<ref name=":0" /> <blockquote>''"Hindu is a descriptive term for the people from the other side of river Sindhu and first used by Arabs in fifth century AD."''<ref>Pandey, A and Navare, A. V. (2018) ''Paths of Yoga : Perspective for Workplace Spirituality.'' Springer International Publishing Inc.</ref></blockquote>Hinduism is also more accurately reflected by its Samskrit name, Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana Dharma eternally holds All together. |
− | This, essentially, means to follow one’s eternal duty, which is to search for and understand our spiritual identity, and then to learn to live according to those eternal and spiritual characteristics, especially by one’s own spiritual realizations. This is also the purpose and mission of the Vedic philosophy and culture, and our ultimate duty in human life.
| + | It, essentially, means to follow one’s eternal duty, which is to search for and understand our spiritual identity, and then to learn to live according to those eternal and spiritual characteristics, especially by one’s own spiritual realizations. This is also the purpose and mission of the Vedic philosophy and culture, and our ultimate duty in human life. |
| + | Sanatana Dharma is founded on the Shrutis, consisting of The Four Vedas, which is the final authority, revealed by to the Rishis, organized and compiled by Maharshi Veda Vyasa. Sri Adi Shankaracharya, in his Brahmasutra Bhasyam attributes the following to Maharshi Veda Vyasa<blockquote>युगान्तेऽन्तर्हितान्वेदान् सेतिहासान् महर्षयः । लेभिरे तपसा पूर्वमनुज्ञातः स्वयंभुवा ॥ (Brah. Bhas. 1.3.29)<ref>Bramhasutra Bhashyam ([https://archive.org/stream/BrahmaSutraBhashyaByAdiShankaracharyasanskrit.pdf/Brahma.Sutra.Bhashya.By.Adi.Shankaracharya.Sanskrit#page/n53 Adhyaya 1 Pada 3]) By Sri Adi Shankaracharya</ref></blockquote>''The Vedas, together with the Itihasas, were withdrawn at the end of the Yugas. The Maharshis, permitted by Svayambhu (Brahma) recovered them by Tapas.''<ref name=":0" /> |