Sanatana dharma

[jaimin]

Actually the whole purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to revive our sanatana-
dharma, which is the eternal occupation of the living entity.
Sanatana-dharma does not refer to any sectarian process or religion.
It is the eternal function of the eternal living entities in
relationship with the eternal Supreme Lord. The English word
"religion" is a little different from sanatana-dharma. Religion
conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith
in a particular process, and he may change this faith and adopt
another, but sanatana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be
changed. Man professes to be a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or
any other sect. Such designations are not sanatana-dharma. A Hindu
may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his
faith to become a Hindu, or a Christian may change his faith and so
on. But in all circumstances the change of religious faith does not
effect the eternal occupation of rendering service to others. Thus,
to profess a particular type of sect is not to profess one's sanatana-
dharma. The rendering of service is sanatana-dharma.
Factually we are related to the Supreme Lord in service. The Supreme
Lord is the supreme enjoyer, and we living entities are His
servitors. We are created for His enjoyment, and if we participate in
that eternal enjoyment with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we
become happy. We cannot become happy otherwise. It is not possible
to be happy independently, just as no one part of the body can be
happy without cooperating with the stomach. It is not possible for
the living entity to be happy without rendering transcendental loving
service unto the Supreme Lord, Krishna.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Subrata Lahiri -- Bombay 4 January, 1973