Thread by @vakibs

In this thread, I want to share my opinion on whether one may say “I follow Sanātana Dharma”. I think It is fine to say so, but I find it better to say “I seek Dharma”.

If I am eternally persistent in seeking Dharma, then my pursuit would be Sanātana (primeval and eternal).

Why do I find it better to say “I seek Dharma” instead of “I follow Dharma”?

This is because “Dharma” is a Purushārtha, the other three being Kāma (sensual pleasures), Artha (possessions) and Mōksha (liberation). Dharma relates to how one’s life is integrated with the universe.

The phrase “follow a religion” derived from Abrahamic religions, which are dependent on a specific prophet or a line of prophets. In this context, it makes sense because it is equivalent to saying “I follow that prophet”.

This is not the case for Hinduism (or even for Buddhism).

Hinduism doesn’t have prophets. But that is actually also true for all Dharmic traditions that originated in India. They are all based on adhering to practices that are amenable to self discovery. So all of them should use “seek” (Mārga or the way) instead of “follow” (Anusara).

For example, the Buddha held that his teachings were an encapsulation of the eternal truth that can be discovered by anyone. Similarly, the Vedic tradition holds that the Vēdas are Apaurushēya (not tied to a specific person). They are seen/heard in an enlightened state of mind.

So the goal in Indian traditions is to persistently seek (sādhana) and be not satisfied with easy answers. An important part of this is to ask the right questions, that may be answered through meditation, or if one is lucky, by a Guru that finds him/her (not the other way round).

The nature of Dharma is that it is context dependent. The easiest way to show this is with the seasons. What will be Dharma (the right conduct) for Spring will it be the same for Autumn.

Dharma varies with both the time and the space, as well as with personal circumstances.

The only common desire, independent of contextual circumstances, is for Liberation (Mōksha). But Dharma is clearly not this. May be, it is even the opposite.

With Mōksha, one needs to renounce the universe. With Dharma, one integrates oneself with the universe.

People who desire Mōksha (or Nirvāna) may simply say “I seek Mōksha”. It is not the same as saying “I seek Dharma”. The latter means a very specific thing - that “one follows Rta” the cosmic order.

So if a Hindu “follows” anything, that should be Rta.

pragyata.com/mag/the-cosmic…

If Dharma is so context dependent, what is “Sanātana” (eternal) about it? Isn’t it a paradox? No. This is brilliantly described in a verse from Manusmriti that actually defines the term “Sanātana Dharma”.

“Satyam bruyāt priyam bruyāt
Na bruyāt satyam apriyam
Priyamcha nānrtam bruyāt
Ēsha Dharma Sanātanah”

Speak the truth (satyam). Speak the pleasant (priyam). Don’t speak the truth if it is unpleasant. Don’t speak falsehood (anrtam) even if it is pleasant. That is Sanātana Dharma.

In the Sanskrit original, the meaning is deep and multi-faceted. Dharma means “to sustain”. The verse describes a specific Nāma-Rūpa that will sustain itself.

This is why the 3rd line “Don’t speak the truth of it is unpleasant”. Because such a truth will destroy one’s existence.

In terms of meditative and esoteric experience, that which is spoken as the “Satyam” is nothing but “Agni”. That which is spoken as “Priyam” is nothing but “Āpa”. These are mutually opposed, but can be dissolved into one inexpressible whole (Brahman).

https://twitter.com/vakibs/status/1055101211043655680?s=20

It is really really hard to resolve these two experiences together into an ineffable state of enlightenment. The one who did that will be nothing but a “Brahma Jnāni” (the knower of Brahman).

So in my opinion, it is not to be taken lightly if one says “I seek Sanātana Dharma”.

Instead, if one says “I seek Dharma”, that is extremely honest and very much to the point. This is exactly the statement of Hariśchandra in Satya Yuga, or Śrī Rāma in Trētā Yuga, or Yudishtara in Dwāpara Yuga.

In those corresponding Yugas, they were the paragons of Dharma.

When we live in Kali Yuga, there is no such paragon of character, in whose example we may follow to know our Dharma.

Not only that, every person (based on the internal state of meditation and consciousness) will be experiencing a different Yuga. So knowing the Dharma is complex.

Even a Guru and a Śishya (disciple) may not be experiencing the same Yuga. So the precise nature of Dharma can only be attained by investigation, not by mimicking (although it might help in some cases).

So I find “I seek Dharma” to be the most apt expression for a Hindu. (END)