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| # '''Dharmik Jeevanavidhana''' : Leading a Dharmik lifestyle includes adherence to principles of Dharma as laid down in Shrutis and Smrtis. | | # '''Dharmik Jeevanavidhana''' : Leading a Dharmik lifestyle includes adherence to principles of Dharma as laid down in Shrutis and Smrtis. |
| # '''Bahudevataradhana (Many Deities)''' : The presence of vast host of Devatas does not obscure the Unity of Brahman (Ishvara), in his triple form as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva than does the vast hosts of men, animals, plants and minerals. As said in the Shruti <blockquote>इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहु॒रथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान् । एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाहुः ॥४६॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.164.46)</blockquote> <blockquote> indraṁ mitraṁ varuṇamagnimāhu̱ratho divyaḥ sa suparṇo garutmān । ekaṁ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyagniṁ yamaṁ mātariśvānamāhuḥ ॥46॥ </blockquote> ''Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni they call Him, and the golden feathered Garutman. Of what is One, sages speak as manifold, they call Him Agni, Yama, Matarishva.'' So also in the Smrti <blockquote>आत्मैव देवताः सर्वाः सर्वं आत्मन्यवस्थितम् । ātmaiva devatāḥ sarvāḥ sarvaṁ ātmanyavasthitam । (Manu. Smrt. 12.119)<ref>Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref></blockquote> ''All the devatas are indeed the Self, all rests on the Self.'' <ref name=":0" /> | | # '''Bahudevataradhana (Many Deities)''' : The presence of vast host of Devatas does not obscure the Unity of Brahman (Ishvara), in his triple form as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva than does the vast hosts of men, animals, plants and minerals. As said in the Shruti <blockquote>इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहु॒रथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान् । एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाहुः ॥४६॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.164.46)</blockquote> <blockquote> indraṁ mitraṁ varuṇamagnimāhu̱ratho divyaḥ sa suparṇo garutmān । ekaṁ sad viprā bahudhā vadantyagniṁ yamaṁ mātariśvānamāhuḥ ॥46॥ </blockquote> ''Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni they call Him, and the golden feathered Garutman. Of what is One, sages speak as manifold, they call Him Agni, Yama, Matarishva.'' So also in the Smrti <blockquote>आत्मैव देवताः सर्वाः सर्वं आत्मन्यवस्थितम् । ātmaiva devatāḥ sarvāḥ sarvaṁ ātmanyavasthitam । (Manu. Smrt. 12.119)<ref>Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12])</ref></blockquote> ''All the devatas are indeed the Self, all rests on the Self.'' <ref name=":0" /> |
− | # '''Yajna''' : Shrutis declare it, Smrtis inculcate it and the Shad Vedangas circle around the concept while Dharmashastras show by practice that the worlds are built and maintained by Yajnas. Sanatana Dharma has incorporated and maintains that the yajnas pervade the whole life of man. That Srishti (Creation) began with Yajna is given by the following mantras of Brhdarnayakopanishad and the great | + | # '''Yajna''' : Shrutis declare it, Smrtis inculcate it and the Shad Vedangas circle around the concept while Dharmashastras show by practice that the worlds are built and maintained by Yajnas. Sanatana Dharma has incorporated and maintains that the yajnas pervade the whole life of man. That Srishti (Creation) began with Yajna is given by the following mantras of Brhdarnayakopanishad उषा वा अश्वस्य मेध्यस्य शिरः ।uṣā vā aśvasya medhyasya śiraḥ । (Brhd. Upan. 1.1.1). The dawn verily is the head of the sacrificial horse. Here the dawn is explained as the beginning of the day of Brahma, the day of creation. The Shatapatha Brahmana, the Purusha sukta, Manusmrti also contain references of importance of Yajna in srishti. |
− | # '''Purpose of Life''' : | + | # '''Purpose of Life''' : The ultimate purpose of human life is to shed all attachments to matter and attain moksha (liberation from material existence) and return to the transcendental realm which is not only our true nature but also our real home. The Vedic path offers personal freedom for one to make his or her own choice of how he or she wants to pursue their spiritual approach, and what level of the Absolute Truth he or she wishes to understand. This is the height of spiritual democracy and freedom from tyranny. |
| # '''The Four Ashramas (stages):''' In our life there are four main goals, as indicated by the four ashramas of life, | | # '''The Four Ashramas (stages):''' In our life there are four main goals, as indicated by the four ashramas of life, |
| ## ब्रह्मचर्य || brahmacharya (the student’s life), | | ## ब्रह्मचर्य || brahmacharya (the student’s life), |
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| # All living entities, both human and otherwise, are the same in their essential and divine spiritual being. All of them are parts of the eternal truth, and have appeared in this world to express their nature and also to gather experience in the realms of matter. | | # All living entities, both human and otherwise, are the same in their essential and divine spiritual being. All of them are parts of the eternal truth, and have appeared in this world to express their nature and also to gather experience in the realms of matter. |
| # For this reason, Vedic followers accept the premise of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that all living beings in the universe comprise one family, and that as such all beings are spiritually equal and should be respected as members within that family of the Supreme. | | # For this reason, Vedic followers accept the premise of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, that all living beings in the universe comprise one family, and that as such all beings are spiritually equal and should be respected as members within that family of the Supreme. |
− | # The ultimate purpose of human life is to shed all attachments to matter and attain moksha (liberation from material existence) and return to the transcendental realm which is not only our true nature but also our real home. | + | # |
| # Every person’s capacity to progress spiritually depends upon their personal qualities, choices and abilities, and is not limited by the circumstances of one’s color, caste, class, or any other circumstance of birth or temporary material limitations or designations. | | # Every person’s capacity to progress spiritually depends upon their personal qualities, choices and abilities, and is not limited by the circumstances of one’s color, caste, class, or any other circumstance of birth or temporary material limitations or designations. |
| # The Vedic path is based on regaining our natural spiritual identity. To pursue this goal, all human beings have the eternal right to choose their personal form of spiritual practice, as well as the right to reject any form of religious activity, and that coercion, forced conversion, or commercial inducement to adopt one religion over another should never be used or tolerated to present, propagate, or enforce one’s spiritual beliefs on others. | | # The Vedic path is based on regaining our natural spiritual identity. To pursue this goal, all human beings have the eternal right to choose their personal form of spiritual practice, as well as the right to reject any form of religious activity, and that coercion, forced conversion, or commercial inducement to adopt one religion over another should never be used or tolerated to present, propagate, or enforce one’s spiritual beliefs on others. |
− | # The Vedic path offers personal freedom for one to make his or her own choice of how he or she wants to pursue their spiritual approach, and what level of the Absolute Truth he or she wishes to understand. This is the height of spiritual democracy and freedom from tyranny. | + | # |
| # Recognizing the value and sanctity of all forms of life, as well as the Eternal Divine Being that is their true Self, the Vedic principle is that we should therefore strive in every possible way to peacefully co-exist with all other species of living entities. | | # Recognizing the value and sanctity of all forms of life, as well as the Eternal Divine Being that is their true Self, the Vedic principle is that we should therefore strive in every possible way to peacefully co-exist with all other species of living entities. |
| == Ten general rules of moral conduct of the Vedic path == | | == Ten general rules of moral conduct of the Vedic path == |
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| '''Yamas (for inner purity)''' | | '''Yamas (for inner purity)''' |
− | # सत्य ''||'' Satya or truthfulness, | + | # सत्यम् ''||'' Satya or truthfulness, |
− | # अहिम्सा ''||'' Ahimsa or non-injury to others and treating all beings with respect, | + | # अहिंसा ''||'' Ahimsa or non-injury to others and treating all beings with respect, |
− | # अस्तेय ''||'' Asteya or no cheating or stealing, | + | # अस्तेयम् ''||'' Asteya or no cheating or stealing, |
− | # ब्रह्मचर्य ''||'' Brahmacharya or celibacy, | + | # ब्रह्मचर्यम् ''||'' Brahmacharya or celibacy, |
− | # अपरिघर || Aparighara or no unnecessarily selfish accumulation of resources for one’s own purpose. | + | # अपरिग्रहः || Aparighara or no unnecessarily selfish accumulation of resources for one’s own purpose. |
| '''Niyamas (for external purification)''' | | '''Niyamas (for external purification)''' |
| # शौच || Shaucha or cleanliness and purity of mind and body, | | # शौच || Shaucha or cleanliness and purity of mind and body, |