Dharma is often described as religion, for example, Hindu dharma, Buddhist dharma, Christian dharma. However the only “religion” that can be applied to Dharma is “universal religion” because Dharma means our inner most nature or spiritual essence. It means our spirituality and so cannot be restricted to any one dogma or belief system. Although it’s true a religious person can also follow Dharma.
Dharma means literally that which is our innate nature or purpose in life. For example the dharma of fire is to burn and the dharma of humans is to realise their higher spiritual self or God. The practices and way of life lived to achieve one’s spiritual Goal is called one’s Dharma.
Dharma is made up of four aspects. The first one is called ‘Vistara’ meaning expansion. To follow Vistara means to do those thing which expand the mind. Spiritual meditation or meditation on Infinite Consciousness is a major way of following Vistara. But it also means to have expansive ideas and avoid any narrow, limited or irrationally dogmatic ideas. Developing a rational and Neo Humanistic thinking is an important part of Vistara.
The second aspects is called “Rasa”. Rasa means flow. We all have our individual flows but God or the Universe also has Its divine flow. Rasa means to follow the Divine flow rather than our individual egotistical flows or desires. When through Vistara our minds expand and we begin to experience more and more of our higher spiritual Self, we start to understand our higher flow and follow That.
You may have heard of the joke.”If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans”. Forget your plans and rather try to understand God’s plans for us. This will ensure a happy and successful life, whatever that might mean for us!
Seva or selfless service is the third aspect of Dharma. The emphasis here is on selflessness. Service done with any expectation or conditions is not real service according to Dharma. Better to call it a business transaction. “I’ll do this for you if in return you do this for me.” Even to want praise or a thank you will violate this concept of Seva or service. The only thing acceptable in return of service is the joy you get from seeing how much your actions have helped someone. That is the only ‘reward’ you can accept for any service done.
Service is also important to reducing our selfish egotistical nature. If done with humility and gratitude that you have an opportunity to do service, it will become a great aid to your spiritual growth. Dharma is not for the selfish minded.
The last aspect of Dharma is called Tadsthiti which means the establishment in your higher spiritual Self, which is the goal of Dharma. Practically speaking Dharma means to follow the first three aspects (mental expansion, Divine flow and selfless service) in your life.
Meditation 