Book Review: Religion and Dharma by Sister Nivedita

‘Religion and Dharma’

By: Sister Nivedita

Advaita Ashrama (Publication department)

ISBN: 81-7505-128-0

‘Dharma’ is a term which has larger and more complex significance than the word ‘Religion’.  Yet it is by and large used for ‘religion’ almost everywhere. Dharma literally is the force or principle that binds together. Dharma for Hindus includes the whole social conception of law and conduct and worship. Sister Nivedita preferred to translate the word Dharma as the “National Righteousness”.

This book is a collection of essays written by Sister Nivedita in the early years of 20^th century. All the essays are relevant for today and for long time to come in the future also. In the pages of this book the author talks about topics of national and spiritual interests, like “Mukti: Freedom”, “Hinduism and Organization”, “the past and the future”, “the spirit of renunciation”, “the sacred and the secular”, “luxury and manhood”, “character”, “fitness”, “national righteousness”, “the task before us” and “the ideal”. All are wonderful topics which provide us with as much food of thoughts as they give us glimpse into the mind of the author.

Some quotations from the book:

“As the ignorant fight, from selfish motives, so must we fight unselfishly. Our struggle must be as intense as that of the meanest miser. We must labor for the good of the others as the drowning man clutches at a straw….”

“The struggle with material conditions is eternally necessary to the upward growth of the spirit. When Karma has been exhausted, and the moment of enlightenment is at hand, this condition also must be held to have transcended.”

“Nothing is a greater test of education than the noble employment of leisure and means. It is not nearly so much by our performance of duties, as by our selection of interests, that our character is revealed.”

This book has been a wonderful read and it provided me with much knowledge enrichment on the world at large and also insights on Hinduism and India are wonderful; an awareness of the same to the general masses is the need of the hour.

Highly recommended book for all.

- Rahul