Sanatana Dharma is like a road map. It provides the basic rules by which human society must function to remain happy and in harmony. But what is Sanatana Dharma? Providing rules is its function, but not its definition. So, what is the definition?
Sanatana Dharma is defined as the eternal occupation of all living entities. It is an intrinsic quality that can never be taken away from them. This implies that every human must engage in an activity, without which they can never become truly happy and satisfied. That essential activity is devotion to the Lord. Without devotion, no one can achieve happiness, regardless of their efforts.
But then, what is devotion? Is it merely a sentiment for the Lord, or a set of religious practices? Devotion is based on three fundamental principles: yajña (sacrifice), dāna (charity), and tapa (austerity). One may belong to any theistic religion, but these principles will remain the same. Let’s begin to explore them.
Yajña: Selfless Action
Yajña means selfless action, not necessarily a fire sacrifice. It involves giving up one’s selfishness, attachment to personal ideas, and self-satisfaction, and working for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Yajña is the way to express one’s gratitude to the Lord, who is the source and maintainer of everything. People write gratitude journals, that can also be a type of yajna. But simply writing journals, and not expressing gratitude is incomplete. One must serve God as an expression of that gratitude and then all is perfect.
Service to God can be done by practical actions of chanting the holy names of Lord, reading the scriptures, serving the saints, and spreading the message of Lord.
Dāna: Charity
Dāna means charity, which is the voluntary act of giving away one’s material possessions for a noble cause. But to whom should we give?
Many believe that NGOs are mostly corrupt, with money given in charity often being misused and directed towards the wrong causes. Anything offered for free is sometimes considered to be useless, or even harmful, with a sinister intention behind it.
According to the Mahabharata, the best way to perform charity in this age of hypocrisy is to give to the Lord and His devotees.
Dāna can take various forms, such as building temples, supporting preaching activities, and distributing books. It is a sign of generosity and compassion, qualities of a noble person.
The debate about giving charity directly to the poor and suffering is complex. Some argue that poverty and suffering are choices, not mere chance. This perspective suggests that villagers migrate to big cities primarily due to desires, using financial crisis as an excuse, and then face poverty. Sufferings are seen as the result of our own negative psychological intentions and emotions, which manifest as diseases in the body and mind. The principle of ‘like attracts like’ implies that evil attracts evil, and suffering is considered an evil.
Therefore, helping the poor and suffering is viewed not as charity, but as a temporary solution to their problems. True charity, according to this viewpoint, is to connect them with God, which will eliminate their desires and, consequently, their poverty. It will also dissolve their negativity, al along with their sufferings.
Dāna is a way to free oneself from the bondage of greed and attachment, the root causes of suffering. It also helps to purify one’s wealth, which may be tainted by sin, even if earned honestly. Above all, Dāna pleases the Lord, who is the true owner and enjoyer of everything.
Tapa: Austerity
Tapa means austerity, the voluntary acceptance of bodily and mental pains to achieve a higher purpose in life. It is a method to discipline and control one’s senses, mind, and intelligence, which are often disturbed by lust, anger, and illusion. This discipline helps to purify one’s consciousness, which is obscured by ignorance and false ego.
Tapa attracts the mercy and grace of the Lord, the source of all knowledge and bliss, because it is a sign of determination and sincerity.
Tapa can be practiced by adhering to the rules and regulations of spiritual life, observing fasts and vows, living a simple and humble life, and tolerating difficulties and risks in serving the Lord. Enduring challenges in spreading the message of Bhagavān (preaching) is tapa. It requires energy and enthusiasm to help people understand the science of devotion (bhakti).
Conclusion
Yajña, dāna, and tapa are the three principles of devotion or, in other words, Sanatana Dharma which support and sustain the spiritual welfare of the individual and the society. Not only spiritual welfare but even the material welfare of people can be taken care of by Sanatan Dharma, since when the Lord is pleased everything will be perfectly taken care of by the Lord.
Thus by performing these three principles, one can achieve success in both worlds, and finally the ultimate goal of life, the love of God. This is the way to be safe and happy in this world and the next.