In our discussions, the following words, phrases and pronouns will appear very often; it is important to remember that they all represent the same thing:

• Brahman
• Ātmā or Ātman
• Īśvara
• The Absolute (with a capital A)
• The Self (with a capital S)
• The Real (with a capital R)
• The Reality (with a capital R)
• The ultimate Reality (with a capital R)
• Consciousness (with a capital C) or ‘pure consciousness’
• Truth (with a capital T)
• The Supreme (with a capital S)
• The ultimate Truth (with a capital T)
• It, That, This (pronouns with an initial capital letter)
• The Divine
• God

According to Advaita (non-dual) Vedanta, there is only one ‘thing’ that is real and has existence. The thing never had a beginning, nor will it have any end. This substance is neither visible nor perceivable by any of the sense organs. It stays ever unchanging, whereas all the things visible and sense-perceivable are subject to changes so they are not real. But the invisible, permanent, real, unchanging stuff permeates them all, whether they are living or non-living. All the words, pronouns and phrases as written above denote this one Reality. This convention is not for any quotes from other authors.

Further, note an important word dharma assuming different meanings according to the context. As we move forward, we will gain more clarity on its usage, but let us familiarize ourselves with the word’s relationship with Brahman (the Absolute), the lone Reality:

Vedanta teaches Brahman is the non-perceivable ‘substance’ that presents Itself as the cosmos and life. An underlying self-operating system supports the ‘upkeep’ of the cosmos. Since the cosmos is the manifest form of the non-perceivable Brahman, it is right to say that the self-operating system we have just mentioned belongs to Brahman. That system which holds the entire cosmos in order and supports life is dharma. The root of the Sanskrit word dharma is dhṛ, which means to support.

Learners of Vedanta should visualize dharma as the capability that exists in the domain of Brahman. The dharma system supports life and all the phenomena that we experience. If we understand and align our life completely with the system of dharma, we are said to be leading a righteous life. Otherwise, our life is imperfect or one of adharma (the opposite of dharma). A way of life not in harmony with the system of dharma causes all worldly sufferings. The meaning of dharma in most cases has a relation with this context, particularly in the study of Vedanta. We will continue to discuss dharma with its different shades of meaning as we proceed.

[ To visit the Bhagavad Gita Self-Study page, click/tap on this link: Bhagavad Gita Svādhyāya]

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