How are realities different from the ultimate truth? Sanatana Dharma explains.
In a small, ancient village surrounded by misty mountains and thick forests, there was an old, wise sage named Rishi Vasudev, who was known for his profound understanding of Sanatana Dharma. People from all walks of life, even from distant lands, came to him with their questions, seeking his wisdom.
One day, a young seeker named Aryan traveled to the sage's hut with a burning question in his heart. After bowing, he asked, "Rishi Vasudev, I've studied religions from across the world, each claiming to hold the 'truth.' But I’m confused. What is truth, and how is Sanatana Dharma different from these religions?"
Rishi Vasudev gestured for Aryan to sit down by the fire and said, "Imagine there are many mirrors around us. Each of these mirrors reflects a different aspect of the same mountain outside our hut. Some show only trees, others reveal streams, and some display the peak. Each reflection is a piece of reality, but none of them capture the mountain in its entirety."
He continued, “Now, these mirrors are like the world’s religions. Each reflects a unique understanding of the Divine, limited by perspectives, cultural influences, and human understanding. They form different realities or paths—valuable and illuminating in their own ways—but they are not the ultimate truth."
The young seeker nodded, intrigued but still puzzled. "So, is Sanatana Dharma just another mirror, another reflection of the truth?"
Rishi Vasudev smiled. "No, my child. Sanatana Dharma is like the mountain itself. It is not bound by time, place, or a specific doctrine. The term 'Sanatana' means eternal, and 'Dharma' represents the universal laws and principles that underlie existence itself. It is not a belief in the way dogmatic religions are; it is an experience, a journey, and an understanding of one's self in relation to the cosmos. It speaks of eternal truths that do not change, even if perceptions of reality do."
"Imagine this," he continued, picking up a handful of sand from the ground. "Every grain here represents a human experience, a reality shaped by the ego, desires, and mind. Most people spend their lives sifting through these grains, thinking the sand is all there is. But Sanatana Dharma asks us to go beyond the sand, beyond the changing realities, and seek the ultimate truth—the mountain of self-realization."
Rishi Vasudev paused to let Aryan absorb this. "In dogmatic religions," he explained, "you often find rigid beliefs, commandments, and set doctrines that say, 'This is the way, the only way.' But Sanatana Dharma doesn’t say 'follow this' or 'do that.' It says, 'Know thyself.' It provides various paths—Bhakti (devotion), Karma (action), Jnana (knowledge), and Raja (meditation)—and allows each seeker to choose according to their nature. It is inclusive, not exclusive."
Aryan’s eyes widened with understanding. "So, it’s not about following or believing, but about experiencing and knowing directly."
The sage nodded. "Exactly. Dogmatic religions often separate the Divine from the world, placing God in a heaven far away. But in Sanatana Dharma, the Divine is within every aspect of life. We call this concept Advaita—the non-duality where God, soul, and universe are one. There is no separation; there is only unity."
In the silence that followed, Aryan felt a shift within himself. He no longer felt bound by his previous beliefs, his old concepts of ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ of ‘God’ and ‘man.’ For the first time, he saw himself as part of a timeless, interconnected web—a single drop in the vast ocean of existence.
Rishi Vasudev placed a hand on Aryan's shoulder. "Remember, my child, the truths that Sanatana Dharma points toward are not theories or dogmas. They are eternal principles that anyone, anywhere, can discover within themselves. Go, meditate on this, and allow the mountain of truth to reveal itself to you."
With a deep bow, Aryan thanked the sage and left, carrying a newfound understanding of the difference between transient realities and the eternal, ultimate truth that Sanatana Dharma invites one to discover within.
Science and Sanatana Dharma speak the same truth.
Einstein's theory of relativity and Sanatana Dharma both highlight the interconnectedness and unity of the universe. Relativity shows how gravity is a result of the curvature of spacetime, demonstrating how all objects are interconnected. Similarly, Sanatana Dharma teaches that Brahman (the ultimate reality) connects all beings and existence. Both systems emphasize a cosmic order—Rta in Sanatana Dharma and gravity in relativity—that upholds balance in the universe. Ultimately, both suggest that the apparent separateness of the universe is an illusion, with true unity found in the ultimate truth, whether through the laws of physics or the divine principle of Brahman.
