Question & Answer sessions with HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 2015
Sanatana Dharma and Religion
Question :
What is Sanatana Dharma? I would like to know the relationship and the difference between Religion and Dharma.
Answer :
Religion and Dharma are commonly heard words. What is the difference between the two? What is Sanatana Dharma?
I had explained this earlier. Before we entered into this Creation with our vehicle, a road had already been paved for us. That road is Sanatana Dharma. The direction shown by God as to how we should travel, is Sanatana Dharma. How we traverse the path is Creation. That which existed before Creation, exists while Creation lasts, and remains even when Creation is dissolved, that is Sanatana Dharma.
Kindness and compassion are human qualities which must be preserved and practiced. They never change. Through the Yugas they remain unchanged and define the nature of humanity. That which remains unchanged is Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana means eternal. It never grows stale, it never fades. It ever remains young and fresh.
Religion – the word itself has many meanings. In modern times, ‘Religion’ stands for a certain opinion, a faith. Some elders have stated their beliefs that a certain way of life will please God and will lead to Liberation. Based on those, elaborate religious practices have come into existence.
We wrongly use the word ‘Dharma’ in Telugu to imply religion. ‘Matamu’ is the word for religion, not Dharma. Dharma and Religion are very different. Dharma never changes. Even in a religion, a certain path, a methodology is laid out for doing various virtuous deeds and thereby to merge back into the Supreme Soul. The word ‘Re-ligion’ perhaps has its origin in the Greek language and it means re-joining. We have come away from God, and we have to retrace our steps. Religion should be treated only in that sense. Because of misinterpretations, problems are created regarding religions.
Travel along the highway called Dharma will be comfortable. Short cuts are never advisable. Dharma is always the preferred way. One who follows Dharma ever resides in Paramatma. Whether he is knowledgeable or not, he is assured of Liberation because being Dharmic is itself Jnana. That is how Religion and Dharma are different.