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| == लक्ष्यम् ॥ The Aim == | | == लक्ष्यम् ॥ The Aim == |
| The aim, as quoted in the Taittiriya Upanishad is, धर्मं चर । ''dharmaṁ cara ।'' (11.1).<ref>Taittiriya Upanishad, [https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/tait.html?lang=sa Shikshavalli], Anuvaka 11.1</ref> That is, to reinforce adherence to Dharma (धर्मपालनम्) at every step, every second. So that, no action be deemed as 'against dharma' (धर्मविरोधी). Other objectives include, | | The aim, as quoted in the Taittiriya Upanishad is, धर्मं चर । ''dharmaṁ cara ।'' (11.1).<ref>Taittiriya Upanishad, [https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/tait.html?lang=sa Shikshavalli], Anuvaka 11.1</ref> That is, to reinforce adherence to Dharma (धर्मपालनम्) at every step, every second. So that, no action be deemed as 'against dharma' (धर्मविरोधी). Other objectives include, |
− | * Developing a sense of social cognition. So that, no action goes against the well-being of the society as a whole. And this requires collective adherence to the following dharma by the society as quoted by Manu.: | + | * Developing a sense of social cognition. So that, no action goes against the well-being of the society as a whole. And this requires collective adherence to the following dharma by the society as quoted by Manu. |
| <blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यं अस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । एतं सामासिकं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्येऽब्रवीन्मनुः । । १०.६३ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>''ahiṁsā satyaṁ asteyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ ।etaṁ sāmāsikaṁ dharmaṁ cāturvarṇye'bravīnmanuḥ । । 10.63 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Abstention from injuring, truthfulness, abstention from unlawful appropriation, purity and control of the sense-organs,—this Manu has declared to be the sum and substance of duty for the four varnas.<ref name=":1" /> | | <blockquote>अहिंसा सत्यं अस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । एतं सामासिकं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्येऽब्रवीन्मनुः । । १०.६३ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>''ahiṁsā satyaṁ asteyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ ।etaṁ sāmāsikaṁ dharmaṁ cāturvarṇye'bravīnmanuḥ । । 10.63 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Abstention from injuring, truthfulness, abstention from unlawful appropriation, purity and control of the sense-organs,—this Manu has declared to be the sum and substance of duty for the four varnas.<ref name=":1" /> |
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− | The Kshatriyas are given the responsibility of protection, Vaishyas take care of nourishment while brahmanas facilitate teaching.
| + | In this collective responsibility of the society, the Kshatriyas are given the responsibility of protection, Vaishyas take care of nourishment while brahmanas facilitate teaching. |
− | * Revelation of the 10 lakshanas of dharma as given in Manusmrti.:<blockquote>धृतिः क्षमा दमोऽस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । धीर्विद्या सत्यं अक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम् । । ६.९२ । ।<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''dhr̥tiḥ kṣamā damo'steyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ । dhīrvidyā satyaṁ akrodho daśakaṁ dharmalakṣaṇam । । 6.92 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Steadiness (refers to a stable behaviour even in extreme situations), Forgiveness, Self-control, Abstention from unrighteous appropriation, Purity (internal and outwardly), Control of the Sense-organs, Discrimination (sat-asat-viveka), Knowledge (the art of using all knowledge in a beneficial way), Truthfulness, and Absence of anger (in thought, word and deed)— these are the ten-fold forms of duty.<ref name=":4" /> | + | * Revelation of the 10 lakshanas of dharma as given in Manusmrti.: |
− | *Making Dharma an instrument for establishing a realation with the supreme reality and attaining the goals of life which may be individualistic and social in nature. Therefore, a feeling of family towards the entire humanity is essential. | + | <blockquote>धृतिः क्षमा दमोऽस्तेयं शौचं इन्द्रियनिग्रहः । धीर्विद्या सत्यं अक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम् । । ६.९२ । ।<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''dhr̥tiḥ kṣamā damo'steyaṁ śaucaṁ indriyanigrahaḥ । dhīrvidyā satyaṁ akrodho daśakaṁ dharmalakṣaṇam । । 6.92 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Steadiness (refers to a stable behaviour even in extreme situations), Forgiveness, Self-control, Abstention from unrighteous appropriation, Purity (internal and outwardly), Control of the Sense-organs, Discrimination (sat-asat-viveka), Knowledge (the art of using all knowledge in a beneficial way), Truthfulness, and Absence of anger (in thought, word and deed)— these are the ten-fold forms of duty.<ref name=":4" /> |
| + | *Making Dharma an instrument for establishing a relation with the supreme reality and attaining the goals of life which may be individualistic as well as social in nature. Therefore, a feeling of family towards the entire humanity is essential. |
| Understanding the different facets of Dharma: | | Understanding the different facets of Dharma: |
| * Understanding [[Abhyudaya (अभ्युदयः)|Abhyudaya]] (for which adherence to trivarga, that is, dharma, artha and kama is essential) and [[Nihshreyasa (निःश्रेयसम्)|Nishreyasa]]. | | * Understanding [[Abhyudaya (अभ्युदयः)|Abhyudaya]] (for which adherence to trivarga, that is, dharma, artha and kama is essential) and [[Nihshreyasa (निःश्रेयसम्)|Nishreyasa]]. |
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| This is the crux of the understanding expected off one who aims at executing the responsibilities vested in one's hands through the different stages of life. | | This is the crux of the understanding expected off one who aims at executing the responsibilities vested in one's hands through the different stages of life. |
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− | == To Sum up == | + | == विषयसारः ॥ Summary == |
| + | The initial stages of शैशवम्, बाल्यम् and किशोरावस्था see the development of conducive mind set. It is in the यौवनम् that an understanding of responsibilities develop. And गार्हस्थ्यम् is the stage that has the responsibility to learn and teach. It is also essential to understand that स्त्री and पुरुषः are same at the psychological level. It is the nature of behaviour that is different. |
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| + | In the initial stages, parents are advised to observe the child, having understood one's own Varna Dharma. Varna is obtained based on the fruits of previous actions. Other important activities include practice of conversing in Sanskrit in a disciplined fashion, collecting stories, pictures, dramas and games based on respective Varna. and social |
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| This entire exercise will bring to our attention that in this Curriculum of life provided by the Indian tradition, the subject matter covered will total up to give us a coursework for all stages of life beginning with the गर्भपूर्वावस्था to वृद्धावस्था. | | This entire exercise will bring to our attention that in this Curriculum of life provided by the Indian tradition, the subject matter covered will total up to give us a coursework for all stages of life beginning with the गर्भपूर्वावस्था to वृद्धावस्था. |
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