Dharma, Salvation and Moksha.

Unlike other religions that confine salvation to one prescribed path, Santan Dharma offers 4 different paths to moksha.

Photo by Rowan Heuvel on Unsplash

There is a lot of difference between the concept of salvation within different religions. Sanatan Dharma has the concept of Moksha. The concept of salvation in Indic religions, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, are within the Dharmic umbrella. Unlike other religions that confine salvation to one prescribed path, Santan Dharma offers four paths to moksha.

[The difference between the concept of salvation and moksha is a topic for a later time. But people generally understand the vague notion of salvation. It is the cherished goal of all religions.]

Santan Dharma says it has, till date, discovered four paths to salvation. A person may choose a path most suited to her and yet attain moksha.

The path of duty (Karma Yog)

A person who performs his duties to the best of her ability attains moksha. The nature and type of duty changes depending upon the people and institutions involved and the context of situations. A person has a duty to other people, including family and strangers, to country, nature, animals etc. Sanatan Dharma (eternal duty) is a duty-based system that explains various duties.

The path of faith and devotion (Bhakti Yog)

A person who surrenders herself to the will of God also achieves Moksha. Sanatan Dharma provides some observations and recommendations as to how to travel this path. The devotee uses God as her guide to achieving moksha.

To fit with the views and aspirations of different people and personalities, God takes the form of different deities. A devotee may find an affinity for the deity of her choice and devotion, and faith in such a deity takes her to moksha.

The path of knowledge (Dnyan Yog)

For the sceptical, who are interested in understanding the world, their pursuit of knowledge leads them to salvation. Various sages and scholars have written different ways to keep your focus on attaining paramount knowledge in your field. These aspects are encoded in texts of relevant subjects.

The path of self (Raj Yog)

Santan Dharma recognises that divinity is in everything including one’s own self. Those who seek to know and understand the divine within themselves can follow a path of rigorous control over physical, mental and spiritual aspects of herself to attain moksha. This path is quite challenging, therefore Sage Patanjali has recommeded an 8-step method to progress along this path.

How to use these paths?

A person chooses whatever path is true to herself. The human experience is classified into physical, emotional and mental. If you can work through the physical, you could attain moksha through action. If you value emotional experience, you can chose faith. If you prefer mental then knowledge and understanding will be your preferred path. If you want to experience all three, then you choose self-realisation.

Some religious commentators have used the analogy of four paths leading to the same mountain peak.

But there are other differences too.

The difference between Sanatan Dharma and other religions is not just the number of paths.

• Sanatan Dharma does not require you to believe in god. It only needs you to understand your duty. Therefore even the non-believers are part of Sanatan Dharma.

• Sanatan Dharma does not impose its system on you. If you end up following the duties, even if do not know the Dharma, you will still attain moksha. Even a person who does not know Sanatan Dharma can still attain moksha.

• Sanatan Dharma does not limit paths to moksha. It allows for future discovery.

In sum

The concept of unique paths to moksha is one of the distinctive features of Sanatan Dharma. This appreciation is why there is no dissonance between people of faith and people of reason. Sanatan Dharma acknowledges that for complete life experience, we need to enrich physical, mental and spiritual equally.

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