This document discusses the concept of Dharma according to Shrii Shrii A'nandamu'rti. It states that the dharma or inherent nature of human beings is to seek everlasting happiness by realizing the infinite cosmic entity. While people initially seek happiness through limited worldly achievements like wealth and power, their consciousness desires something limitless to fully satisfy it. Only by fulfilling their dharma of attaining the infinite cosmic entity can humans find true and lasting happiness, as the entity alone is eternal. The document contrasts the animal and conscious aspects in humans, saying one's dharma is realized by following consciousness towards the cosmic entity rather than animal instincts for temporary pleasures.

1. What is Dharma?
From Elementary Philosophy
Shrii Shrii A’nandamu’rti
Presented by Dada Rainjitananda

2. Part 1
Dharma

3. Human Beings
• Human beings are
the highest
evolved beings.
• They possess
clearly reflected
consciousness.

4. Human Beings• They can
distinguish
between good and
bad with the help
of their
consciousness…
• …and when in
trouble they find
a way out with
the help of their
consciousness.

5. What people desire
• A life of
– Happiness and bliss
– Without suffering and misery
• Everyone is in quest for happiness.
• It is the nature of people to seek
happiness.

6. What one does to achieve happiness
• Amass wealth
• Achieve power and
position
• But the acquisition of
something limited just
creates the want for
more…
• …and the quest for
happiness finds no end.
•At first one is attracted towards physical
enjoyments.

7. What one does to achieve happiness
• It is limitless and infinite
• However dignified the
achievement, it fails to set
at rest people’s unlimited
quest for happiness.
•The hunger for possessing is unending.

8. What one does to achieve happiness
• The world itself is limited
and can not provide
infinite objects.
• The greatest worldly
acquisition, even if it be the
entire globe, would not
secure anything of an infinite
and permanent character.

9. What is that infinite, eternal thing that
can provide everlasting happiness?
• The Cosmic Entity alone is infinite
and eternal.
• It alone is limitless.
• The eternal longing of the human
being for happiness can only be
satiated by realization of the
Infinite.

10. Everlasting Happiness
• None of the things of
the finite and limited
world can set at rest
the everlasting urge
for happiness.
• The acquisition gives
rising to further
longing.

11. Everlasting Happiness
• It is only the
infinite Cosmic
Entity that can
provide
everlasting
happiness.

12. Dharma
• It means – “nature”,
“characteristic” of “property”.
• The dharma of fire is to burn
• The dharma of human beings is to
seek the Cosmic Entity.

13. Human Beings
• The degree of divinity is indicated
by the clearly reflected
consciousness.
• Every human has two aspects
– The animal aspect
– The conscious aspect

14. The animal aspect
• Leaning towards animal life or physical
enjoyment.
• Look to eating, drinking and gratification
of other physical desires.
• Animals are satisfied with these limited
enjoyments as their urge is not infinite.
Animals take what they need.

15. The conscious aspect
• The infinite nature of the human
urge for absolute happiness is due
to their consciousness alone.
• It is their consciousness which is
not satisfied with the limited.
• It is their consciousness which
creates the desire for the Cosmic
Entity.

16. Constant duel
• Between the animality and the
consciousness.
• The animal aspect pulls towards
instant earthly joys and…
• …consciousness pulls towards the
Cosmic Entity.

17. Animal status
• If consciousness lies dormant
behind animality, people behave
worst then animals.
• They do not deserve the status of
human beings.
• They are animals in human form.

18. Human status
• The longing for the infinite is the
innate quality or dharma which
characterizes the human status of
people.

19. Happiness
• It is when one gets what one desires.
• The consciousness in people seeks the
Infinite, the Cosmic Entity.
• People will derive real happiness only
when they attain the Cosmic Entity…
• … or get into the process of attaining it.
• The dharma of human beings is to attain
Brahma (Cosmic Entity).