Centre for Yoga Studies

The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    dharma

    Devanāgarī: धर्म Translation: essential qualities, according to the nature of anything; highest duty; customary observance or prescribed conduct Opposite words:adharma Related concepts:svadharma, mokṣa, varṇa, āśrama, artha, kāma, karman, āpastamba, puṇya, mitra

    Appears in

    Yoga Sūtra:

    Chapter 3: 13 , 14 , 45
    Chapter 4: 12 , 29

    Sāṃkhya Kārikā:

    44 , 23 , 43 , 67

    Bhagavad Gītā:

    Chapter 1: 1
    Chapter 12: 20
    Chapter 2: 7

    Gītārtha Saṃgraha:

    1


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “The first type of Pramāṇa, Pratyakṣa, arises from the continuous active link,
    through the mind and senses, between Jīva and the object it perceives.
    The second type, Anumāna, is when present perception is
    based on what has been seen in other situations in the past.
    For instance, when I see dark clouds, I think that it may rain.
    With the third type, Āgamā, undistorted words from
    a reliable source are the basis for perception.
    The Veda are Pramāṇa by virtue of their source.
    The sage Āpastamba proclaimed that the Veda are Pramāṇa for Dharma.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 7

    “A particular Dharma is not there,
    but somewhere we feel it is there.”
    – T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 8

    “Are our impulses to act self serving,
    as in arising from a place of Karma?
    Or, are our impulses to act serving the self,
    as in arising from a place of Dharma?
    Furthermore, how to discern the difference
    betwixt my and thy, given the facility of
    Karma to proclaim itself as being Dharma?”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 21

    Asteya – non-stealing.
    It’s not taking away that
    which belongs to somebody else.
    Whether Dravya, Dharma, Karma, Vidyā.
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 37

    “The first Śloka sets the saga on the field of Dharma.
    Dharma is how we respond, whatever the situation,
    presuming we can sustain our view within the present.
    Karma is how we respond, having lost sight of our view,
    because it’s become obscured by  the force of our memories.
    Then Karma is the force now driving us through our memories.
    So, Arjuna’s Dharma becomes obscured because of his Karma.”
    – Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter One verse 1

    One of the purposes of Yoga is to help us
    with the challenge of discerning between
    what is our Karma and what is our Dharma.
    Firstly by appreciating what is and what isn’t Karma.
    – Paul Harvey on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Three

    “The message of the Bhagavad Gītā is:
    The vision of the lord is certain through
    singular devotion developed by honouring ones Dharma
    in a spirit that leads to clarity and detachment.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka One

    “It is honouring ones Dharma that will reveal the true nature of oneself.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Two

    “In the indian tradition we have the idea of Varṇa–Āśrama–Dharma
    and Dharma–Artha–Kāma–Mokṣa.
    According to a persons environment, development
    or stage of activity in life, the choice must vary.
    Which will help a person grow at the body and mental level?
    So as such it should be Sṛṣṭi Krama for a certain level of people.
    In old times. up to the age of 24 years should be in the direction of Sṛṣṭi Krama.
    In other words more risk taken with the body, more ability to grasp ideas.
    i.e. Vinyāsa almost like gymnastics.
    Not suitable for older person starting Yoga.
    We need to be open to this beautiful idea of adaptation.”
    – TKV Desikachar France August 1983

    “What is the role of Dharma
    in the face of survival?”
    – TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

    “Once I am very clear about what is to be known – Svadharma,
    then I can be clear about what is universal Dharma.”
    – TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

    “The Indian culture says:
    ‘Dharma will protect the one who protects the Dharma‘.
    If you serve something it will serve you.
    The more I honour the other person
    the better will be the response,
    of course it may take some time.”
    – TKV Desikachar speaking with his senior Western students London 1998

    “There is an image in the world today that the Guru has a following
    and his students follow him like the Pied Piper.
    This is not good. The true Guru shows you the way.
    You go your way and then you’re on your own,
    because you know your place and you are grateful.
    I can always thank my Guru naturally and enjoy the relationship,
    but I do not have to follow him around, because then I am not in my own place.
    Following the Guru’s destination is another way of losing yourself.
    The Yoga concept of Svadharma means ‘your own Dharma‘ or ‘your own way’.
    If you try to do somebody else’s Dharma, trouble happens.
    The Guru helps you find your own Dharma.”
    – TKV Desikachar

    “Dharma is that which supports you,
    Dharma is that which stops you from falling,
    Dharma is that which picks you up after you have fallen.”
    – TKV Desikachar

    “The Bhagavad Gītā is about confusion OF Dharma and
    the Yoga Sūtra is about confusion AND Dharma.”
    – TKV Desikachar

    “In the journey of life, one meets many people,
    Among the many, some become Karma Mitra.
    Among the some, a few become Dharma Mitra.
    This day marks the passing of one such friend,
    dear Dharma Mitra Ziva Kinrot, I salute your light.”
    Remembering dear friends within the passage of life and death…

    Link to Related Posts:

    • T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
    • TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
    • Paul’s Yoga Mālā – A Thread of Pearls from Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra
    • Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Study Keywords – Collected & Collated into Chapters
    • Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Study Questions – Collected & Collated into Chapters
    • Reflecting on the relationship between Svadharma and Dharma
    • Yoga Sūtra on Stress – An interview with TKV Desikachar

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    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
    As it continues to develop your comments and suggestions on your experience and how it may be enhanced are very welcome via this link, thank you.
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