Dharma as it is to me
During my childhood, I have vivid memories of accompanying my mother to different religious and cultural events where she volunteered. Although I did not comprehend the importance of her work, I was always captivated by the liveliness of those experiences.
As I matured, I came to value the camaraderie present in these gatherings. The events were divided into various teams of volunteers: hosts, priests, cooks, planners, and devotees. The hosts warmly welcomed and honored each guest's presence. The priests oversaw the rituals, and their every word commanded silence. The cooks ensured that every guest was well-fed and content. The planners brought all the groups together, ensuring that everyone had what they needed. Finally, the devotees, or guests, worshipped while the other groups ensured that they enjoyed the event to the fullest.
These amazing events happen multiple times a year, and they're always one-of-a-kind and perfectly executed. It's truly heartwarming to witness members of our community working together in harmony to create something truly special. There's no bickering or disagreements, just pure beauty and collaboration.
This is how I have come to view Sanātana Dharma, my way of life. Life isn’t experienced the same for everyone. We cannot expect everyone to do the same things or live the same way, but we can appreciate our differences and work together to build a world where we can coexist peacefully. In this philosophy, there are some core points that many of us seek- teachings that I learned early on- smriti, shruthi, & purnānam.
Smriti is things learned from memory- habitual acts. Of course, each generation has a different smriti, and we can safely say each individual also has a different smriti. However, after acknowledging that, it is imperative to note that understanding that some base truths will never be subject to change is shruthi. Shruthi is the tune of the universe- these are fundamental rights, and no one can change or travel against them. Purānam stands for mythological stories, but they aren’t just folklore. Many of the stories have deeper meanings and give insight into the lessons of Shruthi in layman's terms. Being in tune with these teachings is what Sanātana Dharma is about.
The fundamental laws of the universe consist of these three points. The correct course of action is to pursue your own interpretation of truth. Truth may entail the pursuit of happiness for some, while for others it may involve seeking a greater understanding of the purpose of life.
I will follow my path, and you follow yours. This, in my view, is the essence of being a Sanātani.
