The Ten Characteristics of a Dharmik

         Dhriti ,ksama damosteyam saucham indriyanigrah , 

            Dhiirvidya satyamkrodha dasakamdharma laksalam 

(1)Dhriti : The word " dhriti" has a number of meanings the most important being " patience".

(2) Ksama :  The ksama means forgiveness. The first letter of ksama is ksa . This is the last and fiftieth letter of the Sanskrit alphabet " ksa" is itself composed of two letters "ksa" and "sa" . What is forgiveness ? Suppose someone has done something inimical to you, you in turn , need not be revengeful or vindictive towards him or her. This is the dharmik  interpretation of ksama. 

(3) Dama : The actual meaning of the word " dama" is self-control. A person who fights against the anti-social elements and controls oneself is said to be doing "samana", while one who controls oneself is said to be doing "samana" . Death controls the human beings and maintains a balance in this universe so death is called " samana". 

(4) Asteya : Asteya is a very important principle in our code of conduct. It means " non-stealing". There are two kinds of stealing (i) internal -Internal stealing is stealing within one's one's mind. Although internal theft does not harm anyone, unlike external theft, it neverthless makes one a thief. It is done mentally out of shame , fear, or lack of opportunity. So astheya means desisting from theft of any kind (ii) external-To deprive others of what is legitimately due to them or to take away things from others without their knowledge is called exernal stealing. 

(5)Shaocham : This is cleanliness , remaining free from dirt. Bathing or wearing clean cloths does not make one holy, although it is a part of holiness. The spirit of shaocha is to keep the mind pure and the body clean.  "kuru punyamahoratram" That is do virtuous deeds night and day.

(6) Indriyanigraha : When human beings successfully attain control over the five motor organs and five sensory organs , the afferent and efferent nerves and the sensory and motor nerves, it is called "Indriyanigraha".You must have experienced that while walking it is very difficult to enjoy the taste of good food calmly."  To control the sense organs- eyes, ears, nose, etc or to suspend one indriya keeping the other indriya active , is called indriyanigraha. What does one gain from the practice of indriyanigraha ? By suspending the activities of the indriyas, one can direct one's entire mind towards one's goal with undivided attention. This is way indriyanigraha is an essential aspect of dharma.

(7) Dhii : Dhii means " wisdom" . A person who reads thousands of books will be unable to remember everything which was reads thousands of books will be unable to remember everything which was read. There is ,however another type of memory-extra-cerebral memory-which does not depend upon the nerve cells of the human brain and which is independent of the body.  One has to arouse the power of this memory by dint of one's sadhana and for this human intellect is required. The goal of one's life should always be fixed before one's eyes , it should never be lost sight of .When one remembers one's goal twenty-four hours a day one develops the actual memory. In the scriptures, this sort of memory is called "dhruva smrti" Here dhii means that dhruvasmrti or fixed memory.

(8) Vidya : Vidya means " self -knowledge" that is knowledge which leads human beings towards Paramatma. Knowledge which leads human beings towards mundane objects is called "avidyao " . People have to labour hard to attain either vidya or avidya. For dharmik people , vidya is essential. Avidya however ,serves monor purposes and is not to be completely rejected. 

(9) Satyam : The definition of satyam is " Parahitartham bangmanaso yatharthitam satyam". That is the right application of thought and words for the welfare of humanity is called satya. That which one thinks or says with a view to harming others may be a fact or a factual statement but it is not satya. 

(10) Akrodha : Krodha means anger. Akrodha means " free from anger" A dharmik person -and indeed an intelligent person-must be free from anger. He or she is sure to be defeated in argumentation. Even if it comes to a physical fight he or she will surely be defeated because ,with hands and feet trembling, he or she will fall down at the slightest push.So one of the criteria for a dharmik person is to be free from anger.These ten characteristics are clearly manifested in a dharmik person.