What is Dharma? – The Value of Values
A. Dharma Sastras — Scriptures on Dharma – Puranas – Ramayana
“About the topic of Karma Even Sages are Perplexed” because the Dharma Field is complex. We need scripture because morality is an issue for human beings owing to free will.
1. Innate Nature (svabhava)
2. Dharmic Actions (svadharma)
B. Bhagavad Gita – Dharma & Moksa Sastra – The Context
“The Battlefield of Life is a Field of Dharma”- Bhagavad Gita
C. Identity and Dharma
I. Samsari (Zero-Sum) Dharma
“The “Me self” is little more than its priorities and values.” – Dayananda
1. I Value Happiness. I don’t know I am the problem.
2. My pursuit is Legitimized by Society. “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable; that all men are created equal and independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” – Declaration of Independence
3. Strategies for Gaining Happiness – Get what I want a Avoid what I don’t want. (raga/dvesha) – I don’t know the value of values.
A. Worldly Samsara – Success and Respect
1. I value free will and the right to pursue my likes and dislikes.
2. I suffer because the world doesn’t conform to them. My
suffering is reinforced by my strategy.
3. I have a crisis and value freedom from samsara and become a seeker.
B. Spiritual Samsara – I don’t know spirituality is samsara.
4. My sense of smallness increases and I become disillusioned
with spirituality.
5. I hear about Vedanta (non-duality) and try to experience
non-duality.
6. I skip Karma Yoga because I want a quick fix.
7. I fail to understand the value of character in the quest for
moksa and don’t question my “me values” or why I value
‘the me self.”
8. I intellectually assimilate the idea that I am Awareness and
feel free, whole and complete, not realizing that the sense of
completeness is only a feeling generated by loss of
ignorance.
9. I feel that I have failed and give up Vedanta not knowing
that Vedanta is the solutioin.
II. The Solution – Vedanta – Inquiry into Values
“What do I value most: security, pleasure, virtue or freedom
or do I want freedom from these values?
A. The Values
1. Security: Anything practical, emotional, social or political in the form of money, property, reputation, status, influence or power that make you feel secure.
2. Pleasure: Anything that entertains and satisfies your senses, emotions or mind: music, literature, sex, drugs, travel, luxuries, etc.
3. Dharma: Pleasure not born of desire but derived from serving, helping, friendship or relieving suffering. It is pleasure derived from doing what needs to be done. Doing good. – Ramayana
4. Freedom: Freedom from what you don’t want i.e. suffering, lack, loss, insecurity, etc. Nobody wants freedom from what they want. I don’t know that freedom from what I don’t want is just another object.
What I actually want is freedom from Insecurity.
B. Getting, Keeping and Getting Rid of Objects Doesn’t Work
“To be unhappy only requires you.” — Dayananda
1. Joy is Not in Objects/ Suffering is not in Objects
2. Joy is in Me/ I am the Joy/Suffering is in Me
C. Converting the Desire to Have and Not to Have into the Desire to Know
The Vision of Vedanta
1. The problem is I don’t know that nothing is missing.
2. I think I have problems when I am the problem.
3. Since I have free will I am the solution. It is fun all the way.
III. Karma Yogi Dharma – The Dharma of Feelings & Emotions
Knowing all Actions are For Your Benefit Makes All Your Actions Meaningful
Dharma Yoga = Karma Yoga = Bhakti Yoga
1. I don’t want to be free of security and pleasure, nor do I need to be. I want freedom from what I don’t want. But, there are many things that have to be done whether I want to do them or not.
2. Responding to them in an appropriate and timely fashion to them is dharma, doing God’s will. Not responding in an appropriate and timely fashion is adharma.
3. Responding appropriately is called punya (good dharma). Responding inappropriately is called papa (adharma).
4. Responding appropriately increases my self-love whereas responding inappropriately reduces my self-esteem. I need to love myself if I am going to succeed. The first step to loving myself is loving God.
5. If I pursue security and pleasure with dharma in mind I am doing everything within my power.
6. I need not worry because Isvara has my back.
IV. Jnana Yogi Dharma – the Dharma of Thinking
A. The Opposite Thought
1. The world is not a threat. It is a benign creation.
2. I am not small, inadequate and incomplete. Nothing can be
added or subtracted from me.
B. Inquiry, The Application of Knowledge Never Ends
1. I am always committed to listening.
2. I am always committed to reflecting.
3. I am always committed to assimilating.
C. Dharma Trumps Moksa – Enligihtened Lifestyle
D. Values Required for Moksa
It is a self-evident truth that there is a mutual expectation of non-injury.
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Next ShiningWorld Webinar Offerings:
Q&A – Sunday, February 16 at 7:30 – 9:30 PM (Madrid Time)
What is Dharma Part 2 February 22-24 (same schedule)
Q&A – Sunday, February, 31 th