How is Dharma sustained?

There is a common quote from some Sikh historical text:

ਰਾਜ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਾ ਧਰਮ ਚਲੇ ਹੈ।
ਧਰਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਦਲੇ ਮਲੇ ਹੈ।
(Without Raj (kingdom) Dharma cannot be run and without Dharma all is destroyed)

Famous Vedic sage of Mauryan times - Chanakya said: Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge by diligent practice; a king by conciliatory words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.

What is the Gurmat perspective on this? What holds Dharma according to Gurmat? Is Dharma dependant upon wealth as Chanakya says or on Raj as the historical text above says? This does not seem right.

Kulbir Singh

this is a tough one indeed

There is a great article in the soora so paichaniya magazine on this, I will try to post up a summary it soon Guru Ji willing. Lets just say its very different to its popular interpretation.

I decided to scan it instead to avoid any mistakes. Also I should have said 'So kaheat hai soora 'magazine (akj publication) rather than soora so paichanyea, the article is by Prof. Balvinder Singh and is from the September 2004 issue.

wealth = naam and naam = dharma, so in a way, chanakya is right.

ਹਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਲੈ ਊਤਮ ਧਰਮਾ ॥
Chanting the Name of the Lord is the highest religion.

Kulbir Singh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is a common quote from some Sikh historical
> text:
>
> ਰਾਜ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਾ ਧਰਮ ਚਲੇ
> ਹੈ।
> ਧਰਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਦਲੇ ਮਲੇ
> ਹੈ।
> (Without Raj (kingdom) Dharma cannot be run and
> without Dharma all is destroyed)
>
> Famous Vedic sage of Mauryan times - Chanakya
> said: Religion is preserved by wealth; knowledge
> by diligent practice; a king by conciliatory
> words; and a home by a dutiful housewife.
>
> What is the Gurmat perspective on this? What holds
> Dharma according to Gurmat? Is Dharma dependant
> upon wealth as Chanakya says or on Raj as the
> historical text above says? This does not seem
> right.
>
> Kulbir Singh


ਰਾਜ ਬਿਨਾ ਨਾ ਧਰਮ ਚਲੇ ਹੈ।
ਧਰਮ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਭ ਦਲੇ ਮਲੇ ਹੈ।

This is an extremely beautiful teaching of Guru Sahib which highlights the fact that the Panth is a Miri Piri nation, and for a Sikh Miri Piri concept gives a complete balance in ones life. People often link Miri Piri with Sri Guru HarGobind Sahib and say this concept was created during the time of the 6th Nanak. But this does not seem right. When Guru Sahib went into the mountains to do veechar with the Siddhas who ran from the troubles of the world Guru Sahib spoke with complete Bir Ras. Its as if Guru Sahib was a general going around the world to assemble an Army to crush the imperial forces.

When a society ( kingdom) does not have common Moral (Dharmic) Laws, and the people do not respect these laws based on Dharam then the end result is chaos. There is no Santokh where there is no Raj. In such a society ( Raj) nobody trust anybody; people will kill their own kin in a Raj with out respect for Dharma ( Moral Laws).Can you imagine how difficult Bhagti is in such a place? A person would not have the leisure time to do simran, study, reflect on WaaheGuru. Instead there time would be mainly engaged in protecting their lives from uncontrollable lawless people. Those societies that base their Raj on Dharma their lives are full of contentment, truth, and contemplation.

Dhaol Dharm Daya Kaa Poot|

Bhai Kulbir Singh jee could you please do a brief translation of the articles Bhai Uttam Singh has posted, also share you thought on this.

What wealth did Guru Angad dev Ji had when he was asked by His SatGuroo to leave Kartarpur Sahib?
Guru Sahib went and settled in Khadoor Sahib where all developments came.

What wealth did Guru Amar Dass Ji had when he was asked by His SatGuroo to leave Khadoor Sahib for Goindwal Sahib which was only established with the arrival of Guru Sahib and soon saw development?

What wealth did Guru Raam Dass Ji had when he was asked by His SatGuroo to leave Goindwal Sahib to establish Ramdaspur(Sri AmritSar Sahib), with the arrival of Guru Sahib it sprung up with development?



the list continuous for other Guru Sahiban as well ....Taran Tarn Sahib, Kartarpur, Kiratpur, Sahib(center of Sikhi), Chakk Nanaki(Sri Anandpur Sahib).

What wealth did each Guru Sahiban had?

Chota veer

Quote

What wealth did each Guru Sahiban had?

ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੋ ਜੇ ਦੇਵੈ ਦੇਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
The Lord's Name is the pure wealth; it is given only by the Giver.