All Writings

Spiritual Writings · English

English Writings

Essays and discourses by CA. Jayesh Sheth on self-realization, the soul, and Dharma.

Discourse · प्रश्नोत्तर

What is Dharma?

Questions & Answers on the Soul, Right Vision, and the Path of Liberation

Question — What is Dharma?

Generally, dharma is understood as a sect or religion, but its true meaning is the inherent nature (essential quality) of a substance.

Question — What is the nature (essential quality) of the soul?

The nature (i.e., defining characteristic) of the soul is to know and to see.

Question — What is the identity of the soul? How can it be experienced?

Everyone experiences their own thoughts, knowledge, and consciousness, yet they consider themselves to be the body rather than the soul — this is delusion (mithyātva). If we consider ourselves to be the body, then even if the eyes are healthy, they cannot see after death; however, if the same eyes are transplanted into a living person, they can see. From this, it can be concluded that the knowing-seeing soul has departed from the dead body, while that same knowing-seeing soul exists in the living body, enabling it to see.

In this way, by recognizing the knowing-seeing soul, one should understand that the one who sees through the eyes is the knower — the soul — and that "I myself am that," not the eyes. By attaining the qualifications such as detachment, withdrawing from desires related to external objects, and turning inward toward the Self, one should realize: "That is me, so'ham — I am the pure soul of the nature of knowledge alone." This realization is the method of true experience (Samyagdarshan).

Question — What qualifications are necessary for attaining Samyagdarshan?

Generally, these include:

  • Goodness, simplicity, renunciation of injustice and immorality
  • Avoidance of prohibited foods (meat, fish, butter, honey, root vegetables, night meals, pickles, papad, etc.)
  • Renunciation of the seven major vices (gambling, alcohol, meat-eating, prostitution, theft, hunting, and illicit relations)
  • Fear of worldly wandering (cycle of birth and death)
  • Seeing the world as transient and insignificant
  • Considering worldly existence as a disease
  • An intense desire for self-realization
  • Contemplation of the twelve reflections (bhāvanās)
  • Viewing all living beings with attitudes like friendliness (the four bhāvanās)
  • Right understanding of tatvas
  • Deep reverence for the true teacher, scriptures, and enlightened beings

These are the essential qualifications.