Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithaha....

- was the message For the millennium delivered by the 36th pontiff of Dhakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sri Bharatheetheertha Mahaswamigal!!
Everyone in this world wishes to live with happiness, peace and prosperity.
If this desire has to be fulfilled, then everyone should follow the path of "Dharma" and practice it in their daily life.
Several thousand years ago, our great saints, seers and wise men said,"Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithaha" That translates to: "If we protect Dharma, Dharma will protect us"
Protection of Dharma does not mean mere adoration of Dharma. It is the effort of putting the principles of Dharma into practice. Every one of us desires supreme happiness not only in this birth but also in subsequent births or Janmas. No one will wish to have sufferings or sorrow in any birth.
"Dharma grants happiness and peace. Adharma makes life miserable with agony and sorrow," says our Sastra.
What is the true meaning or significance of Dharma?
Dharma means: Helping the poor and the needy. Dharma means: Worshipping and obeying God. Dharma means: To be in the company of persons endowed with purity and virtues. Dharma means: Listening and understanding matters that reflect divine values and virtues. Dharma teaches us to avoid avarice and to eschew the desire to possess others' wealth. Dharma is Ahimsa. It is merciful nature not to harm anyone through word, deed or mind at any time. Humanity should imbibe and always remember this virtue: Just like me, others too feel joy and sorrow. If someone abuses or hurts me, it pains. It is in the same way the other person will also suffer, if I abuse him. Therefore what I do not wish to happen to me, should not happen to others also.These values and virtues are universal.
"Athmanah prathikoolani pareshaam na samaachareth" - are the words of guidance from Sastras on these virtues.
"Don't do to others what is harmful to you" is the meaning of the above verse.
Violence is a great sin. Non-violence is the path of Dharma. If we wish to live in peace, happiness and harmony, we should live with love and faith.Peace will not be there, where lust and anger dwells. Only when we drop our lust and anger, we would be able to live with true happiness and in peace.We require God's grace in all our thoughts and deeds. Therefore we must pray to God with devotion, whenever we start any new activity.Our Ego and selfishness should be totally dropped, as Ego is the root cause of our evil deeds. Hence everyone should function totally devoid of Ego or "Ahankara".All the wisdom, capabilities and power that we possess are mercifully granted to us by God. Let us take an Oath "to use all our wisdom, capabilities and power in the service of God and in the service of humanity"

I read thru this again today and it still carries the powerful message and the tone as was intended a few years back! Thank the fact that my folks are over at Sringeri at this point that led me to looking this message up again after a while!