3.2: Sanatana-dharma
The Constitutional Position of the Soul
- Sanatana means eternal.
- Self-realisation means to understand the real nature (eternal identity) of the self.
- Identity is defined in terms of relationships to others-parents, brothers, uncles, occupation, community, society, nation.
- If we want to know our ultimate, eternal (constitutional) identity, we have to see our postion in relationship to the absolute truth, to God.
So what is our relationship to God?
That is our dharma, our eternal (sanatana-) dharma.
- Colloquially, dharma means occupation, religion, or path. But these are not universal or eternal or the essence of the living being's existence.
- The root meaning of dharma is "essence" or "that which sustains ones existence"; For instance saltiness is the essence of salt — you can not remove it. Heat and light are the essences of fire; they are its dharma. Similarily the essential nature of the living entitiy is activity in relationship to others: service.
- Religion really means to re-link. And re-linking with God is a process universal to all religions. Yoga means the same thing: to connect oneself with God. And this connection is re-established through service.
Summary
So, our constitutional identity is defined by our relationship to the Lord.
Our essential nature is to serve.
Therefore we are servants of the Lord, just as the part is to the whole.
This is our sanatana-dharma, our eternal occupation, our real religion.