Talk:Sadācāra

By Swami Harshananda

sadācāra (‘good conduct’)

Dharma (righteousness) is the principal basis of Hinduism. Its entire value-system depends on the former.

The four sources of dharma are:

Vedas; smṛtis (secondary scriptures not opposed to the Vedas); sadācāra (conduct of good people); and, ātmanah priyam (what is sanctioned by one’s pure conscience).

Sadācāra is generally defined as the ācāra or conduct of śiṣtas or satpuruṣas or good persons. These śiṣtas have purified themselves by practising the virtues ordained in the holy texts and by eschewing the ariṣaḍvargas (the six enemies like lust, anger and greed).

Whenever there is any doubt about one’s conduct in a particular situation in life, one should look at the conduct of these śiṣṭas and follow them (Taittirlya Upanisad 1.11).

See also ĀCĀRA and DHARMA.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

OLD CONTENT

sadācāra (‘good conduct’) Dharma (righteousness) is the prin¬cipal basis of Hinduism. Its entire value- system depends on the former. The four sources of dharma are: Vedas; smṛtis (secondary scriptures not opposed to the Vedas); sadācāra (conduct of good people); and, ātmanah priyam (what is sanctioned by one’s pure conscience). Sadācāra is generally defined as the ācāra or conduct of śiṣtas or satpuruṣas or good persons. These śiṣtas have purified themselves by practising the virtues ordained in the holy texts and by eschew¬ing the ariṣaḍvargas (the six enemies like lust, anger and greed). Whenever there is any doubt about one’s conduct in a particular situation in life, one should look at the conduct of these śiṣtas and follow them (Taittirlya Upanisad 1.11). See also ĀCĀRA and DHARMA.