View source for Dharma means fact. Dharma is not imagination, or religion does not mean something imagined - I imagine something; you imagine something

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"Dharma means fact. Dharma is not imagination, or religion does not mean something imagined: "I imagine something; you imagine something."}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|Soham}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2024-11-10T00:18:02.000Z}}
{{last|2024-11-10T00:18:02.000Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=0|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=1|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:Dharma Means...]]
[[Category:Fact]]
[[Category:Is Not]]
[[Category:Imagination]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Does Not Mean]]
[[Category:Something]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SOHAM]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Lectures</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
Dharma means fact. Dharma is not imagination, or religion does not mean something imagined: "I imagine something; you imagine something." Now there are so many rascals, they say you can manufacture your own dharma, or religious system. No. That is rascaldom.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:740630 - Lecture BG 09.01-2 - Melbourne|740630 - Lecture BG 09.01-2 - Melbourne]]
</div>
<div class="text">
Now, you take some knowledge. Suppose you are going to be cured from some disease. So doctor is giving you medicine and treatment. So pratyakṣāvagamaṁ: it is not theoretical. You understand that your fever is diminishing, you are getting strength. Then it is pratyakṣāvagamaṁ, directly perceived. Not that you go to a doctor, and he gives you medicine, and you do not understand whether you are being cured or you are in the same position. No. That is not. You will feel. Another example is just like if you eat, then you will feel pleasure, strength, satisfaction. Not that you are going to be eating continually, but . . . no such thing. No. That will be understood automatically. Similarly, pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ. Dharma means religion. Religion . . . don't understand religion which is mentioned in the English dictionary as a kind of faith. No. It is not faith; it is fact.

Dharma means fact. Dharma is not imagination, or religion does not mean something imagined: "I imagine something; you imagine something." Now there are so many rascals, they say you can manufacture your own dharma, or religious system. No. That is rascaldom. You cannot do it. Dharma, I have several times explained, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). This bhagavān, bhāgavata-dharma . . . dharma means—religious faith means—the course, the orders given by God. This is the shortest description. As in the state, in the government, the king or the legislative assembly, they . . . it can give laws. You cannot manufacture laws at your home. If you say that, "I have manufactured my own law," that will not be accepted. Similarly, you cannot manufacture a kind of dharma, or faith. No. Dharma means—that is the description of the Vedic literature—dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam ([[Vanisource:SB 6.3.19|SB 6.3.19]]). Dharma, or the system of religion, can be given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Unfortunately, we do not know who is the Personality of Godhead and what is His order and what is His law. We do not know. Every one of us in the darkness. That kind of knowledge is not being described. Perfect knowledge: uttamam. Uttamam means "beyond darkness." Tama means "darkness" and ut means "transcendental," uttamam. Pratyakṣāvagamaṁ. And if you execute, you try to follow this system of religion, then you will directly understand: Yes, you are making progress. Directly. Just like these boys and girls, and you also join, dancing. This is directly connecting God. Otherwise they are not dogs, that they are . . . I have given some bribe, and they are dancing. No. They are feeling God consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness; therefore they are dancing. It is not that I have come from a foreign country and I am giving bribe, and they are dancing like a dog. No. This is pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ, directly perceiving the presence of God.
</div>
</div>
</div>