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The Truth of Dharma and the Dharma of Truth: Reflections on Hinduism as a Dharmic Faith

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lipner, Julius 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pThis article discusses what it might mean to characterize traditional Hinduism as a dharmic faith in relation to the concepts of truth (jats:italicsatyam</jats:italic>) and its opposite (jats:italicanṛtam</jats:italic>), without however expatiating on supposed contrasts between Hinduism and the “Abrahamic” faiths. The argument is conducted by recognizing two senses tojats:italicanṛtam</jats:italic>, namely, “non-truth” and “falsehood,” in contrast tojats:italicsatyam</jats:italic>; and the method used is inductive in that a historically well-known episode of thejats:italicMahābhārata—</jats:italic>the story of Kauśika and the bandits—and its authoritative interpretation by the deity Kṛṣṇa in terms ofjats:italicsatyam</jats:italic>andjats:italicanṛtam</jats:italic>(in thejats:italicKarṇaparvan</jats:italic>, Book 8, of the text) are analyzed heuristically to indicate howjats:italicdharma</jats:italic>is viewed in the traditionjats:italicqua</jats:italic>ethical concept. The conclusion is drawn that Hindujats:italicdharma</jats:italic>is understood as that whose objective is ultimately to bring about the welfare of the world (jats:italiclokasaṅgraha</jats:italic>). In relation to truth (and its opposite),jats:italicmaterially</jats:italic>,jats:italicdharma</jats:italic>is invariably contextual in connotation (in contrast to what might be a Kantian or absolutist reading of moral imperatives), whereasjats:italicformally</jats:italic>, at the hands of one commentator or other, not least in modern times,jats:italicdharma</jats:italic>is that which defines what it means to be Hindu. The material and formal connotations ofjats:italicdharma</jats:italic>thus analyzed and taken together set Hinduism apartjats:italicqua</jats:italic>dharmic faith.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

Hindu dharma, satyam/truth, anṛtam/non-truth/falsehood, lokasaṅgraha, ethical contextualism versus absolutism, Hinduism and modernity

Journal Title

International Journal of Hindu Studies

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1022-4556
1574-9282

Volume Title

23

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
N/A