Wikipedia: Common dhArmic principles for all human beings are as follows

 

Wikipedia: Common dhArmic principles for all human beings are as follows

Satyam (Truth, Integrity) There are different dimensions to this attribute. It is not just telling the truth always. Telling truth and hurting others is not dharma. If we are lying truly to help others who are following in dharmic paths, then it is dharma. One example of this in MahAbhAratha is when Sri Krishna tells YudhisTira to tell a lie that Ashvathama an elephant has died. This is because Sri DroNacharya was battling for the adhamic side and killing people unnecessarily accumulating sins. 

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So, when krishNa told Sri yuDhisTira to lie, he tells for the welfare of people and to prevent Sri DronAcharya from accumulating sins. So, Sri krishNa asking YudhisTira to lie was a dharmic act and an act of Satya.

 DayA or Compassion : Compassion is a very important principle. We have to respond to other people’s difficulties and server other people as much as possible. Patanjali Yoga sutra (1.33) says mind becomes purified by cultivating feelings of maitri (friendliness, lovingness) which is a feeling towards others when others are happy, Karuna (Compassion or mercy) feelings towards others when others are suffering, mudita (Gladness or good will) towards where there are good things happening and upeksha (indifference, neutrality or acceptance) where there is bad things are happening or bad behavior from other people.

 tapaH or austerity , spiritual practices or deep thinking: Thinking deeply about any topic is called tapas. Thinking deeply about any topic gives discrimination and full knowledge on that topic. This can be used determine the right behavior and right course of action.

 SauchaM: purity of body and mind: . Usually people place more emphasis on the physical purity. The purity from a spiritual practice perspective refers to the purity of the mind. Purity of the body is an aid or tool to develop the purity of the mind.

 titiksha, tolerance: Even if somebody does wrong to you, accept them and forgive them. Facing happiness , sorrow and other dualities of life with equanimity is also titiksha. Sri Purandara dAsa says that there is no better tapas than tolerance and patience.

 ijya , poooja of the Lord: We have to do all of our activities as if it is pooja to the Lord. Then the life itself becomes the pooja to the Lord. Our Children are also gifts from God. Treat them as gifts provided by God.

 Shama is the control and tranquility of the mind and concentration of the mind in the Lord. If the mind is focused on the God, then it will not go towards the sense objects.

 Dama, Control of the sense organs, body and mind: The restraint of the sense organs, body and mind is one of the most important characterstics of sAdhana as srimad Bhagavad Gita and kaThopanishad emphasize.

 ahimsa, non-violence: Ahimsa paramo dharmaH. Ahimsa is the ultimate dharma. Without ahimsa there can be no dharma. If you are not treating others well, then there is benefit from sAdhana.

 brahmacharya: Common meaning of brahmacharya is celibacy. Inner meaning of the word is one whose mind is set in the brahman and not seeking worldly pleasures. brahmacharya is also mainly in the mind. Example of this is Hanuman, when he was searching for Sita in Ravana’s palace, he saw many women in their bedroom. Still his mind was not disturbed by seeing those places, because his mind always fixed on searching for mother sita and Lord Sri Rama.

 tyAgaH, renunciation and giving up. Giving things and service to others.

 svAdhyayaH: self study . Everybody has to constantly study and gain knowledge all the time.

 Arjavam: Consistency in thought, speech and action. Have no difference between inner and outer thoughts and behavior. Usually most of us have play various roles and have various masks when we play different roles. If we truly remove all masks and have the same thoughts and behaviors internally and externally, that is a sign of spiritual progress.

 SantoshaH: Happiness. Happiness arises out of contentment.

 samadRuk: Treating everybody with respect according to their relation to you. We should not discriminate against anybody. Bhisma says that “we should not discriminate against an anybody in the society” [na varNAnam vibhedosti – There is no discrimination among varNas- Bhishma in MahAbhAratha].

 seva: Service to others is a great road to spiritual process. Sri madhvAcharya says “service to everybody” is a great tool for spiritual progress . service to others is a way to service to God. [nAna janasya shushUsha – Service to various people should be performed- Sri madhvAcharya].

 Or is it kramye….gramyehoparamaH shanaiH: Withdrawl from the worldly desires in a gradual fashion. The rishis know that is not very easy to withdraw from the worldly desires. It has to be done in a gradual fashion.

Next they talk about one of the most important characteristics of spiritual progress. They talk about the nine different kinds of bhakti towards God.

 ShravaNam: to hear about God and scriptures such as Vedas , upanishads and purANas.

 kirtanaM: to Sings bhajans and devotional poetry.

 ● smaraNam: Constant remembrance of God. This is a very Sri madhvAchArya says that Constant Remembrance of God is the only rule that needs to be followed. All other rules are slaves to this rule.[smartavyaM satataM vishuH vismaratvyaM na kadAchana | sarve vidhi nishedhAH syuH etayoreva kimkarAH – vishNu should be remembered always . He should not forgotten even for a moment. All rules of conduct are subservient to these two rules- Sri madhvAcharya in krishNamrita maharNava] .

 seva: Service to God and his bhaktas.

 Ijya, pooja: worship of God and his bhaktas.

 avanatiH: Bowing to God and his bhaktas.

 dAsayam: surrender to God. Sri madhvAcharya defines this more precisely as “Seva to external forms of God as dAsyam” [bahisTa eAshwara dasatvam dAsyam].

 sakhyam: Friendship to God. Arjuna is well known for his bhakti in the form of friendship to krishNa.

 Atma samarpaNaM: Complete surrender of Self to God. Sri madhvAcharya defines this in a beautiful fashion. “After knowing God as one who is within me, who is protecting me always from eternal beginning to end, loving him dearly and offering us completely to 

Him is complete self-surrender” [anaydyantha kaleshu muktau samasAra evacha maisthAh shobhayet ekah vishnur mam preratyekah sarva devaishu cha iti tam priti tam jnanaM -Sri madhvAcharya] All these qualities described above are dharmic principles that all human beings need to follow for spiritual growth. 

This is an extraordinary group of qualities that every one of us needs to follow. Following these set of principles will enable one to grow rapidly in spiritual path.