Sanatana Dharma

Sanātana Dharma (सनातन धर्म) means “the eternal way of life.” It is the traditional self-description of what is today called Hinduism.

• Sanātana = eternal, timeless, universal

• Dharma = cosmic order, duty, righteousness, way of living
  Together, it refers to a timeless spiritual and ethical framework rather than a single, fixed religion.

Key foundations

1. Vedas – The oldest sacred texts (Ṛig, Yajur, Sāma, Atharva)

2. Upaniṣads – Philosophical inquiry into Brahman (ultimate reality) and Ātman (self)

3. Smṛtis & Itihāsas – Bhagavad Gītā, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata

4. Purāṇas – Devotional narratives and cosmology

• Brahman – Supreme, infinite reality

• Ātman – The true self, identical with Brahman (in Advaita)

• Karma – Law of action and consequence

• Saṁsāra – Cycle of birth and rebirth

• Mokṣa – Liberation from saṁsāra

• Dharma – Moral, social, and spiritual duty (varies by role and stage of life)

   

Paths to realization (Yogas)

• Jñāna Yoga – Path of knowledge

• Bhakti Yoga – Path of devotion

• Karma Yoga – Path of selfless action

• Rāja Yoga – Path of meditation and discipline

   

Way of life 

• Accepts multiple philosophies (Advaita, Dvaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, etc.)

• Encourages pluralism: “Ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti” — Truth is one, sages call it by many names

• Emphasizes personal spiritual experience over compulsory belief

• Integrates spirituality, ethics, society, ecology, and daily life

• Sees the universe as sacred and interconnected

How to feel better

“Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can.”

When you’re feeling low, going for a walk is probably the last thing you want to do. But when you are low, you likely aren’t just going to wake up and feel like suddenly taking a walk. Instead, you have to fake it till you make it.

 

“You can't bully yourself into feeling better. You can't negatively talk yourself into feeling better.”- Emma Mahony

“You have to start acting how you eventually want to feel. Start doing those things, those actions, before that feeling naturally comes,”

“Even just the act of going out in nature is a really helpful reset, and gives the ability to put things in perspective a bit and recognize that what’s going on within a building is not the entire world.”

Do things that you enjoyed doing as a child and remind yourself of those happy moments.

 

"Self-compassion involves acknowledging that this is a particularly challenging time, and that my feelings are both understandable and valid. It's entirely acceptable to not feel at my best, and I need not be overly critical of myself for it."

“Acknowledge that you’re a good person who’s just going through a hard time at this moment and you try to still remain good inside your core” 

“Even in your worst and lowest moments, attempt to recognize your core worth and value.”