Dharma Vs karma

[Guest guest]

Hi to all of you dear and literated saintly people.

 

can anybody explain to me the what Dharma and Karma is

and its difference? Give me clear and real life

exaples please?

 

Best Wishes

 

Henry

 

_______

 

La mejor conexión a internet y 25MB extra a tu correo por $100 al mes.

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Henry:

 

First, let me admit in advance that it is difficult and almost

impossible to provide a single concise definition for "Dharma." The

dharma of fire is to burn, the dharma of a tiger is to eat a goat,

the dharma of a sun is to provide the light, etc. Then what is the

dharma of a human beings? The question is not necessarily one-

dimensional and consequently no concise answer is possible. For

example the dictionary definition of dharma stipulates that dharma

is that which is established or firm, steadfast decree, statute,

ordinance, law; usage, practice, customary observance or prescribed

conduct, duty; right, justice (often as a synonym of punishment);

virtue, morality, religion, religious merit and good works. In

Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scripture), dharma is often best left

untranslated. In Bhagavad Gita, to understand the meaning of dharma,

we need to carefully look at the context of its usage. Popular

translations include "right way of living,Divine Law,Path of

Righteousness,religious fundamentals," "faith,natural

harmony," and "duty". Dharma may be used to refer to as a manual for

ethical behavior (eg. Manu dharma.).

 

Karma is often misunderstood and one of the most distorted views of

karma is the idea that nothing can be done about it (destiny). The

Hindu definition of Karma consists of three parts: Prarabdha karma,

Samchita karma and Agami karma.

 

Prarabdha Karma is unchangeable within the scope of one life, since

it is the 'setup' for the life in question. It represents the

segment of karma that is attributable to the karma of one's past

lives. After death, the Atman leaves the body, as the casting off of

old clothes, and carries with it the impressions of the past life of

thoughts, actions and events.

 

Samchita Karma is inherited through one's own efforts with great

practice and determination. The samchita karma is alterable through

extra efforts such as yoga , meditation, and devotion to god.

 

The Agami karma is the karma of the present life over which the soul

has complete control. The idea is quite parallel to the saying

that "man creates his own destiny." Through this one uses the

present time to create karma to use it for the future of the current

life and in life-times to come. Any major event in one's life (good

or bad) may be attributed to either Prarabadha or Agami Karma.

 

Karma does allow the presence or shower of Divine Grace. Through

devotion and love of God, one can avoid the ill effects of Prarabdha

Karma. The teachings of Bhagavad Gita indicate that by

developing 'vairagya' or 'detachment' from the fruits of one's

karma, one can transcend karma and be liberated. ProfVK (one of the

moderators of this list) has recently presented a detailed account

of the role of karma in one's life. Please visit his Web site for

greater details on Karma, http://www.geocities.com/profvk/

 

Finally the entire focus of the Hindu Scripture, Bhagavad Gita can

be regarded as `Dharma and Karma.' A good grasp of Gita can provide

a clear picture about Dharma and Karma and the distinction between

the two.

 

Let me try to provide a simple western example to illustrate Dharma

and Karma: The Karma of the president of the USA is fulfill all the

duties expected from the CEO of the US Government. At the same

time, his Dharma is to follow the US Constitution and the laws

enacted at the Congress. Like everyone, he is also bound both by

the Karma and Dharma!

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

Note: Honestly to get a clear picture of "dharma and karma" one need

to get a comprehensive understanding of the Vedic Religion. As a

minimum, some investment of time may be necessary to read and grasp

the teachings of Bhagavad Gita. Dharma and Karma can only be

understood fully by living and not necessarily by reading!

 

advaitin, HENRY ALZAMORA <aparokshdo>

wrote:

> can anybody explain to me the what Dharma and Karma is

> and its difference? Give me clear and real life

> exaples please?

[Guest guest]

Sir Henry,

 

Interesting question and an equally thought povoking answer, Sri Ram

Chandran. I shall try my best to be short:

 

1. Dharma is the essential natue. The dharma of fire is to burn, that

of ice to be cold. The dharma of human beings is to know their own

dharma. In this sense:

 

"SreyAn svadharmo viguNah, paradharmAt sunishThitAt.

svadharme nidhanam Sreyah, paradharmo bhayAvahah." - Bhagavad Gita.

 

I interpret it as: "A person trying to know the self - which is his

dharma, even if it is inefficient, is better than one who considers

everything else to be the self (eg: he thinks the body is the self).

Such a person is nothing better than an animal."

 

2. Karma is an attribute that is falsely seen as attached to the self.

But it is not. I don't do any karma - the universe makes it appear so.

Q. Then why do I suffer for my karma?

A. I don't. The Universe makes it appear so.

 

Simply put, Karma by definition is action.

 

3. The difference between the two is that between Brahman and the

universe!!

 

-Balaji

> > can anybody explain to me the what Dharma and Karma is

> > and its difference? Give me clear and real life

> > exaples please?

[Guest guest]

Balaj, Namaste,

Glad to see your posting again.

In the context of Dharma Vs Karma, when Bhagvan Sri Krishna says

"Sarva Dharman Paritjya Mamekam Saranam Vraja"

how are we to understand this?

Warm Regards

Balaji Ramasubramanian <balajiramasubramanian wrote:

Sir Henry,

 

Interesting question and an equally thought povoking answer, Sri Ram

Chandran. I shall try my best to be short:

 

1. Dharma is the essential natue. The dharma of fire is to burn, that

of ice to be cold. The dharma of human beings is to know their own

dharma. In this sense:

 

"SreyAn svadharmo viguNah, paradharmAt sunishThitAt.

svadharme nidhanam Sreyah, paradharmo bhayAvahah." - Bhagavad Gita.

 

I interpret it as: "A person trying to know the self - which is his

dharma, even if it is inefficient, is better than one who considers

everything else to be the self (eg: he thinks the body is the self).

Such a person is nothing better than an animal."

 

2. Karma is an attribute that is falsely seen as attached to the self.

But it is not. I don't do any karma - the universe makes it appear so.

Q. Then why do I suffer for my karma?

A. I don't. The Universe makes it appear so.

 

Simply put, Karma by definition is action.

 

3. The difference between the two is that between Brahman and the

universe!!

 

-Balaji

> > can anybody explain to me the what Dharma and Karma is

> > and its difference? Give me clear and real life

> > exaples please?

 

 

 

 

Discussion of Shankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman

and Brahman.

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[Vinod K Gopi 0]

Hi henry,

 

Simple terms :- You are a human, and Humans Die & according to Hindu Dharma any one who dies he or she is given water before anythg happens. As a Symbol of Satisfaction.( not only in Hind Dharma its in all but we ppl have discriminated with unethical social status and ego.)

Now Comg with Examples.

 

Giving Water Before Death, by near & dear ones or ur blood relations : for them giving or fetching water is DHARMAM.

 

Giving Water After Death by near & dear ones or ur blood relations : for them giving or fetching water is KARMAM..

 

I hope now u understood

 

 

 

 

 

Hi to all of you dear and literated saintly people.

 

can anybody explain to me the what Dharma and Karma is

and its difference? Give me clear and real life

exaples please?

 

Best Wishes

 

Henry

 

_______

 

La mejor conexión a internet y 25MB extra a tu correo por $100 al mes.

México

[Guest Sebi Thomas]

I dont know much about this like other wise and literate peoples here. I like to see the whole things in this way; lets start from the beginning or from beginner; the almighty or God an ocean of light the pure spirit. In the beginning the almighty found everything is perfect and static so he decided to direct a drama. He created the universe and given life to us by giving each body a small particle of his own pure spirit and decided each soul or the particle must take several births n finally return to him. To make this done he has created the Maya in other words the illusion which will imprison the human minds to the material world and under its influence we pour a stain over soul the KARMA. The karma over the soul reduces the jyoti or the glittering light of the soul and make it impossible for the soul to return to the almighty. So the soul will continue its journey from one birth to another. The DHARMA is the duty of humans to reduce the stain over our soul in our life time, the prayer and meditation will help us control our indriyas or senses from the influence of maya and reduce the karma of our soul. Many people think it can be achieved in a single birth; i believe each birth are steps of a staircase to the heaven or to the return to the almighty but we humans decides the number of steps, because each soul born travel to birth with its previous birth's karma and this karma decides how far more to go. So we have to do our dharma to save our soul by reducing the karma on it and make its return to God. This is what i think about the world. This is my theory only so i am not in to argue with any.