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=== जीवात्मा || Jivatma ===

=== जीवात्मा || Jivatma ===

In Shruti and Smrti, in Purana and Itihasa, the Self in man is declared to be of the nature of Brahman. The Jivatma is Brahman, as a seed is to the tree, and remains a wanderer in Samsara till he realizes his true Self. Shvetashvatara Upanishad says thus <blockquote>अङ्गुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषोऽन्तरात्मा सदा जनानां हृदये सन्निविष्टः ।(Shve. Upan. 3.13)<ref>Shvetashvatara Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3])</ref> </blockquote>The measure of a thumb, the Purusha, the Inner Self of all, ie ever residing in the heart of men. Embodied in a form ([[Upadhi (उपाधिः)|Upadhi]]) (casting off the wornout ones), experiencing and evolving through it, reaps his reward in the invisible worlds. Three-fold is his nature - Iccha (Will), Jnana (Wisdom) and Kriya (Action) the laws of which cover the making of Karma for the Jivatma. He goes through the three stages of the evolution of Manas : subjection to Kama, conflict with Kama, triumph over Kama and development of higher intellectual powers. Once Buddhi or Intellect is evolved, Avidya disappears and he attains unity with Brahman.<ref name=":0" /><ref>N. S. Ananta Rangacharya (2003) ''Principal Upanishads (Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandookya, Taittiriya, Mahanarayana, Svetasvatara) Volume 1.'' Bangalore : Sri Rama Printers</ref>

In Shruti and Smrti, in Purana and Itihasa, the Self in man is declared to be of the nature of Brahman. The Jivatma is Brahman, as a seed is to the tree, and remains a wanderer in Samsara till he realizes his true Self. Shvetashvatara Upanishad says thus <blockquote>अङ्गुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषोऽन्तरात्मा सदा जनानां हृदये सन्निविष्टः ।(Shve. Upan. 3.13)<ref>Shvetashvatara Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3])</ref> </blockquote>The measure of a thumb, the Purusha, the Inner Self of all, ie ever residing in the heart of men. Embodied in a form ([[Upadhi (उपाधिः)|Upadhi]]) (casting off the wornout ones), experiencing and evolving through it, reaps his reward in the invisible worlds. Three-fold is his nature - Iccha (Will), Jnana (Wisdom) and Kriya (Action) the laws of which cover the making of Karma for the Jivatma. He goes through the three stages of the evolution of Manas : subjection to Kama, conflict with Kama, triumph over Kama and development of higher intellectual powers. Once Buddhi or Intellect is evolved, Avidya disappears and he attains unity with Brahman.<ref name=":0" /><ref>N. S. Ananta Rangacharya (2003) ''Principal Upanishads (Isa, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandookya, Taittiriya, Mahanarayana, Svetasvatara) Volume 1.'' Bangalore : Sri Rama Printers</ref>  

=== कर्मसिद्धान्तम् || Karma Siddhanta  ===

=== कर्मसिद्धान्तम् || Karma Siddhanta  ===

# Sanyasa (सन्यासः) or renunciation stage of life in which our spiritual purpose is the main focus  

# Sanyasa (सन्यासः) or renunciation stage of life in which our spiritual purpose is the main focus  

== Ten general rules of moral conduct of the Vedic path ==

== Ten general rules of moral conduct of the Vedic path ==

Of the ten rules of moral conduct five are for inner purity (Yamas) & the other five for external purification (Niyamas) —

 

Of the ten rules of moral conduct five are for inner purity (Yamas) & the other five for external purification (Niyamas) —  

'''Yamas (for inner purity)'''

'''Yamas (for inner purity)'''

# संतोष || Santosh or contentment,  

# संतोष || Santosh or contentment,  

# ईश्वर प्रणिधान || Ishwara-pranidhana, or acceptance of the Supreme.

# ईश्वर प्रणिधान || Ishwara-pranidhana, or acceptance of the Supreme.

== Dharma Lakshanas ==

== Dharma Lakshanas ==

Manusmrti lays the following ten qualities of Dharma.  

Manusmrti lays the following ten lakshanas of Dharma.  

: धृति: क्षमा दमोऽस्‍तेयं शौचमिन्‍द्रियनिग्रह:। धीर्विद्या सत्‍यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम्‌ || (Manu. Smrt. 6.92)

: धृति: क्षमा दमोऽस्‍तेयं शौचमिन्‍द्रियनिग्रह:। धीर्विद्या सत्‍यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम्‌ || (Manu. Smrt. 6.92)

# Dhriti (धृति: । firmness or fortitude)  

# Dhrti (धृति: । firmness or fortitude)  

# Kshama (क्षमा । forgiveness)  

# Kshama (क्षमा । forgiveness)  

# Dama (दमः । self-control)  

# Dama (दमः । self-control)  

# Asteya (अस्‍तेयं । refraining from stealing or dishonesty)  

# Asteya (अस्‍तेयम् । refraining from stealing or dishonesty)  

# Shauch (शौचम् । purity both external and internal)  

# Shaucha (शौचम् । purity both external and internal)  

# Indriya nigraha (इन्‍द्रियनिग्रह: । control over the indriyas or worldly senses)  

# Indriya nigraha (इन्‍द्रियनिग्रह: । control over the indriyas or worldly senses)  

# Dhih (धीः । intellectual power, knowledge of Shastras)  

# Dhih (धीः । intellectual power, knowledge of Shastras)  

# Satyam (सत्‍यम् । truthfulness)  

# Satyam (सत्‍यम् । truthfulness)  

# Akrodhah (अक्रोधः । absence of anger)

# Akrodhah (अक्रोधः । absence of anger)

 

These principles are part of the eternal, universal truths that apply equally to all living entities who can use them for progress '''regardless of class, caste, nationality, gender, or any other temporary qualifications.''' These basic principles, as we can see, are not so difficult to understand and are the basis of the Vedic spiritual life.

Yajnavalkya gives the above nine qualities of Dharma similar to those given in Manusmrti, with slight differences. He considers Ahimsa (not having These principles are part of the eternal, universal truths that apply equally to all living entities who can use them for progress '''regardless of class, caste, nationality, gender, or any other temporary qualifications.''' These basic principles, as we can see, are not so difficult to understand and are the basis of the Vedic spiritual life.

== Paths in Sanatana Dharma ==

== Paths in Sanatana Dharma ==

# '''Karma yoga''', which is the path of right action, detachment from the fruits of one’s labor, and dedicating our activities for a higher and spiritual purpose, especially to Bhagavan. This is not merely to acquire good karma, but to become free from it altogether to attain moksha.

# '''Karma yoga''', which is the path of right action, detachment from the fruits of one’s labor, and dedicating our activities for a higher and spiritual purpose, especially to Bhagavan. This is not merely to acquire good karma, but to become free from it altogether to attain moksha.