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| One Sanatan Dharma and Its Six Sects |
One Sanatan Dharma and Its Six Sects
1. Unity of Dharma vs. Diversity of Sects
• Every human’s Dharma is fundamentally one.
• Dharma is associated with a human’s mental and physical mechanisms, which are the same for everyone.
• Sects are associated with a human’s ideology, which is varied and changeable.
• Differences in mentality, ideology, and needs lead to variations in religion, culture, civilization, and sect.
• New ideologies give rise to new sects.
• Each sect is tied to a specific form of devotion: to God, Satan, or humans.
• The mindset behind devotion, and the ideology it fosters, forms the foundation of a sect.
2. Devotion and Sects in Sanatan Dharma
In Sanatan Dharma, there are six mentalities of devotion connected to God, which have created six primary sects. A person remains a Sanatani regardless of the sect they join.
The Six Sects:
1. Vaishnav Sect – Devotion to Lord Vishnu.
2. Shaiv Sect – Devotion to Lord Shiva and Bhagwan Shankar.
3. Shakta Sect – Devotion to Parameshwari Gauri’s Dashamahavidya and Navadurga.
4. Smart Sect – Devotion to Ganapati, Mahadurga, Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, the five elemental gods, and all other deities.
5. Bhagwan Sect – Devotion to one particular God.
o Includes Datt sect, Buddha sect, Kalki sect, etc.
6. Guru Sect – Devotion to a Guru, and consequently to the Guru’s God.
Key Point: A person’s mentality or ideology may change, which can change their sect, but their underlying religion remains the same.
3. Sectarianism and Narrow-Mindedness
• Some casteists and sectarians attempt to declare their sect as the “true religion”, discrediting others.
• Examples of sectarian claims:
o Certain Buddhist sects: Only Buddha is true, others are false.
o Some Vaishnav followers: Only their sect represents humanity; others are violent or meat-eating.
o Some Guru followers: Only their Guru is true; God or Divine denied.
Effect: Such narrow-minded thinking weakens their own sect.
4. Challenges with Sect Expansion and Interactions
• Some sects include members from other sects to grow in number.
• Others resist outsiders to protect their core principles.
• Problems arise when:
o One imposes their sect’s ideology on another person.
o One mistreats someone with differing beliefs.
Rule: Both imposing ideology and mistreating others are unrighteous acts.
5. Balance in Sect Affiliation
• Opposing wrong rituals: Opposing both your own sect’s incorrect rituals and those of other sects is balanced.
• Partial opposition is unbalanced: Opposing only the rituals of other sects while defending your own sect’s incorrect rituals is not balanced.
• Friendship across sects: Maintaining friendships within your own sect and with members of other sects is balanced.
• Sect-based hostility: Holding enmity toward someone solely because of their sect is not balanced.
• Balanced attachment to a sect → fosters religiosity.
• Unbalanced attachment → leads to unrighteousness.
• Mere membership in a sect does not guarantees virtue.
• Sometimes, an atheist may be more virtuous than a casteist.
6. Rituals and Their Limitations
• Every sect has rituals: some humane, some inhumane, because they are human creations.
• Objectionable rituals can be opposed, but opposing an entire sect to destroy or humiliate it is dangerous.
Insight:
• A religious person balance dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness).
• A sectarian must also balance interactions with other sects, increasing the chance of mistakes.
• Vigilance is crucial for anyone affiliated with a sect.
7. Conclusion: The True Purpose of Sect Affiliation
If you are associated with a sect, your purpose should be:
• Understand your existence through devotion.
• Study and follow Sanatan Dharma.
• Strive for liberation.
Warning: If your focus shifts to expanding your sect, insulting, or opposing other sects, you have become unrighteous and lost the essence of being truly human.
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