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Sanatan Dharma Cheatsheet

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Sanatan Dharma Cheatsheet

Dropping the knowledge of power for the souls of this world!

HP
HP Maharaja Author · Founder, FinityOne, Vaihom, Maharaja Estates, & Rameelo
2025-11-23 · 7 min read · #HustleMindset

Sanatan Dharma Cheat Sheet

A practical guide to the core essence of Hindu / Sanatan Dharma life

1. What Is Sanatan Dharma?

  • Sanatan Dharma literally means “the eternal way” or “eternal order”.
  • It’s less about a strict “religion” and more about:
  • Living in harmony with truth (Satya)
  • Aligning with universal law (Rita)
  • Fulfilling one’s duty and purpose (Dharma)
  • Moving toward liberation (Moksha)

Key ideas:

  • There is a deeper, unchanging reality behind everything.
  • The soul (Atman) is divine and eternal.
  • Life is a journey of remembering, realizing, and aligning with that divinity.

2. Core Principles of Sanatan Dharma

2.1 Fundamental Concepts

  • Dharma – Righteous duty, right way of living, harmony with cosmic order.
  • Karma – Law of cause and effect; every action (physical, mental, emotional) has consequences.
  • Samsara – Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
  • Moksha – Liberation from the cycle of samsara; union with the Divine.
  • Atman – The true Self; immortal, beyond body and mind.
  • Brahman – Ultimate reality; the all-pervading, absolute consciousness.

2.2 Lived Principles

You can think of these as “daily alignment checkpoints”:

  • Satya (Truth): Commit to honesty in speech, thought, and action.
  • Ahimsa (Non-violence): Minimize harm; act with compassion to all beings.
  • Seva (Service): Serve others selflessly; see service as worship.
  • Shraddha (Faith/Trust): Trust in the Divine order and your path.
  • Santosha (Contentment): Practice gratitude; avoid constant comparison.
  • Tapas (Discipline): Mind, body, and senses under conscious control.

3. Sanatan Dharma & Society

How to align with fellow humans and the world around you

3.1 Family & Community

  • Family is a sacred unit for growth and support.
  • Respect for parents, teachers, elders is seen as respect for Dharma.
  • Hospitality (Atithi Devo Bhava) – “The guest is like God.”

3.2 Social Harmony

  • Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – “The world is one family.”
  • Pluralism: Different paths, cultures, and beliefs can all coexist.
  • True Dharma looks like:
  • Fairness and justice
  • Compassion for the vulnerable
  • Responsibility toward society

3.3 Relationship with Nature

  • Nature is treated as sacred:
  • Rivers, mountains, trees, animals often seen as forms or expressions of the Divine.
  • The ideal is to live lightly, not exploit the Earth endlessly.

Cheat code: If an action harms people, community, or nature in a deep way, it’s usually against Dharma.

4. Why Certain Principles & Practices Exist

Reasons behind common Hindu practices

4.1 Puja (Worship)

  • Not “bribing” God – it’s:
  • A way to focus the mind
  • Offer gratitude
  • Align your heart with your chosen form of the Divine (Ishta Devata)

4.2 Murti (Deity Images)

  • Murti is a symbol and focal point, not “just a statue”.
  • Just like a national flag is more than a piece of cloth, a murti becomes a living symbol once consecrated and worshipped.

4.3 Mantras & Japa

  • Mantras are sound-forms of the Divine.
  • Repetition calms the mind, purifies thoughts, and aligns consciousness.

4.4 Fasting, Festivals, Pilgrimage

  • Fasting: Discipline, health, and remembrance of the Divine.
  • Festivals: Reminders of cosmic stories and values; community bonding.
  • Pilgrimage: Stepping out of routine to re-center the soul.

5. God in Sanatan Dharma

5.1 One Reality, Many Forms

  • At the highest level: Brahman – formless, infinite, beyond name.
  • At the devotional level: Ishvara – God with form, qualities, and personality.
  • Deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, etc.) are:
  • Different faces of the same Divine
  • Chosen based on one’s temperament and relationship with God.

5.2 Personal & Impersonal

  • Some connect to God as:
  • Formless Light / Consciousness
  • A personal Lord / Mother / Friend / Guide
  • Both approaches are accepted and respected.

6. Paths in Sanatan Dharma

Different routes up the same mountain

  • Bhakti Yoga (Devotion):
    Path of love and surrender to God through prayer, kirtan, puja, remembrance.

  • Karma Yoga (Action):
    Path of selfless action; doing your duty without attachment to results.

  • Jnana Yoga (Knowledge):
    Path of inquiry and wisdom; “Who am I?” “What is real?” through scripture, study, reflection.

  • Raja Yoga (Meditation / Mind Discipline):
    Path of meditation, breath control, and inner stillness leading to direct experience.

Most people naturally blend these paths (e.g., devotion + doing one’s work as service).

7. Common Misconceptions & Gentle Responses

Rebuttals you can use calmly and clearly

7.1 “Hindus worship many gods – it’s polytheistic and confused.”

Response:

  • At the philosophical core, Sanatan Dharma teaches one ultimate reality (Brahman).
  • The many deities are different aspects or expressions of that one Divinity, just like one sun reflected in many pots of water.
  • Worshipping different forms allows people with different personalities to form a personal relationship with the Divine.

7.2 “Idol worship is irrational – you’re praying to stone.”

Response:

  • Hindus don’t believe the stone itself is God – the murti is a consecrated symbol.
  • All traditions use symbols:
  • Flags, photos, icons, rings – we treat them with deep respect because of what they represent.
  • In puja, the mind uses the murti as a focal point to connect to the unseen Divine.

7.3 “Caste is Hinduism’s fault.”

Response:

  • The original Vedic idea of varna was based on qualities and tendencies, not birth.
  • Over time, social systems hardened into caste by birth, which is a distortion of Dharma, not Dharma itself.
  • Many saints, scriptures, and modern leaders within Sanatan Dharma have criticized caste discrimination and emphasized equality of all souls.

7.4 “Hinduism doesn’t care about logic or science.”

Response:

  • Classical Hindu thought includes logic (Nyaya), metaphysics (Vedanta), yoga psychology, astronomy, medicine (Ayurveda), etc.
  • The attitude is usually:

    “Use reason, direct experience, and guidance from realized beings.”

  • Faith and inquiry are meant to support, not cancel, each other.

7.5 “If everything is karma, then aren’t we blaming victims?”

Response:

  • Karma is not an excuse for cruelty or inaction.
  • True understanding of karma increases:
  • Compassion (“I’ve suffered, others are suffering – let me help.”)
  • Responsibility (“My actions today shape tomorrow.”)
  • Dharma demands helping those in pain; indifference is against Sanatan values.

8. How to Start Living Sanatan Dharma Daily

A simple personal checklist

  • 5–10 minutes of prayer or silence daily.
  • A small act of service (even a message of support to someone).
  • Practice truthfulness in one area you struggle with.
  • Be conscious of what you consume (food, media, thoughts).
  • Offer your daily work to the Divine:
    “Let this be for something higher than just me.”
  • End the day with gratitude and reflection:
    “Did I move closer to or further from Dharma today?”

Essence of the cheat sheet:
Remember the Divine, do your duty, act with compassion, keep your mind clear, and live in a way that brings harmony to yourself and others. That is Sanatan Dharma in action.