|
According to Hindu belief world is ruled by a cosmic law (dharma), revealing itself in nature and morals. It maintains not only the cosmic law, it also
lays down the patterns of ethical behaviour for all beings. Furthermore it regulates, considering the principle of karma, the reward and punishment for all human actions. Dharma is considered as the highest truth
(satya).
In India, as well as in the western culture the term dharma is closely connected with religion, in many cases taken as a synonym. This is mainly due to the fact, that both terms are intimately linked in the religious scriptures of India, as for example the Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas.
These scriptures always consider the religious thinking and feeling individual, following in his actions the principle of dharma.
Tanaji Acharya introduces in his article the thought, that both terms, dharma and religion, due to their different roots, etymology, philosophy and styles cannot be looked upon as synonyms at all. In his comparative study, he shows very detailed and clearly the essential features of dharma and religion. Presenting a form of tabular comparison, he achieves to reveal their essential differences as well. This careful analysis provides the reader with a very good overview of the predominant features of dharma and religion.
top
back to Acharya's "Dharma and Religion"
|
