Sachin Kadam
DHAMMA:-
To understand the real spirit of the Dhamma that the Master taught, we have to go to his very first sermon. We have to use our imagination and recreate the situation, the atmosphere of India of 600 B.C. Picture the Great Master afte...r his enlightenment proceeding on his mission of human service; read his first sermon to the five recluses at the Deer Park near Benares. Did he quote any book? Did he talk like a priest, claiming authority? Did he offer prizes of heaven or threats of hell? What was the preaching that is held in reverence by all students of religious philosophy even today? Look at the very name given to it in which this very term Dhamma is used—the turning of the Wheel of Dhamma. He preached: (1) avoidance of two extremes—life of passion and luxury on the one hand, and life of torture and rigid asceticism on the other; (2) the Middle Path, which he described as composed of the Four Noble Truths.
DHARMA:-
Dharma was identified with sectarian religion. The degrading butchery called animal sacrifices to less objectionable superstitions. Due to this Religion had become formalism; mere outer observances, performance of rites and ceremonies unrelated to life, character and conduct. Salvation depended upon rites and ceremonies and their performance depended upon priests. Karma was fatalism and the only way to propitiate fate was to do obediently what the outer Dharma or religion advocated. By the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, people could overcome their fate or destiny.
In short,
DHARMA is the religion of beliefs—of tenets, rites and ceremonies that prevailed.
and
DHAMMA is the Religion of Life, of actual Living.
To understand the real spirit of the Dhamma that the Master taught, we have to go to his very first sermon. We have to use our imagination and recreate the situation, the atmosphere of India of 600 B.C. Picture the Great Master afte...r his enlightenment proceeding on his mission of human service; read his first sermon to the five recluses at the Deer Park near Benares. Did he quote any book? Did he talk like a priest, claiming authority? Did he offer prizes of heaven or threats of hell? What was the preaching that is held in reverence by all students of religious philosophy even today? Look at the very name given to it in which this very term Dhamma is used—the turning of the Wheel of Dhamma. He preached: (1) avoidance of two extremes—life of passion and luxury on the one hand, and life of torture and rigid asceticism on the other; (2) the Middle Path, which he described as composed of the Four Noble Truths.
DHARMA:-
Dharma was identified with sectarian religion. The degrading butchery called animal sacrifices to less objectionable superstitions. Due to this Religion had become formalism; mere outer observances, performance of rites and ceremonies unrelated to life, character and conduct. Salvation depended upon rites and ceremonies and their performance depended upon priests. Karma was fatalism and the only way to propitiate fate was to do obediently what the outer Dharma or religion advocated. By the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, people could overcome their fate or destiny.
In short,
DHARMA is the religion of beliefs—of tenets, rites and ceremonies that prevailed.
and
DHAMMA is the Religion of Life, of actual Living.
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