Dharma Quote by Dada Bhagwan
““The whole world believes that performing good deeds is dharma (religion). Performing good deeds is known as laukik dharma (worldly religion, that religion which does not lead us to self-realization but binds merit karmas).””
About This Quote
Source Talk: Spiritual Teachings, 1995
Good deeds are seen as worldly duty, but true spiritual progress requires self‑realization beyond merit.
In simple terms: Worldly good deeds aren't the ultimate spiritual goal.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner realization over external merit.
Themes
spirituality
ethics
self‑realization
Mood
contemplative
motivational
Type
spiritual
ethical
When to use this quote
- volunteer work
- meditation
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
karma
dharma
inner vs outer duty
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance external service with inner growth?
- What practices help move beyond merit‑based actions?
A Different Perspective
May undervalue the social impact of good deeds.
![“To give happiness to others is dharma (religion), but your own main religion is attained only after you attain [knowledge of] the Self (after you attain self realization).” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_to-give-happiness-to-others-is-dharma-re_1294378.jpg)
![“Contradictory actions is non-religion [adharma] and non-contradictory actions is religion [dharma].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d58/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_contradictory-actions-is-non-religion-ad_1196074.jpg)
![“That which reduces our flawed vision is called religion [dharma]. It is non-religion [adharma] that increases a flawed vision. The worldly life is indeed the result of a flawed vision.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b5/dada-bhagwan-31_dharma_that-which-reduces-our-flawed-vision-is_130669.jpg)
![“The greatest religion [dharma] is that we keep everyone pleased.” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/63b/dada-bhagwan-31_buddhism_the-greatest-religion-dharma-is-that-we_702478.jpg)
![“The worldly [spiritual] science is methodic (kramic) in nature; one progresses “step by step”; one has to ascent one step at a time. Whereas this here, is Akram Vignan, a path of step-less spiritual science; it is a science that has arisen after 10 Lac (a million) years. In this path, one travels…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/78b/dada-bhagwan-31_akram-vignan_the-worldly-spiritual-science-is-methodi_1477.jpg)
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
![“Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani [the enlightened one], one can become a Gnani [the enlightened one].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/102/dada-bhagwan-31_enlightened_through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-bec_4725.jpg)
![“Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari [living a worldly life] regardless of whether one is an ascetic or a family man. And where anger-pride-deceit-greed are absent, one is regarded as being asansaari…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ec/dada-bhagwan-31_anger_where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-dece_5756.jpg)
![“Skills (learning) or lack of skills is all egoistic knowledge (ego based knowledge). Ego-free Knowledge is called (true) Knowledge [Gnan].” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b36/dada-bhagwan-31_egoism_skills-learning-or-lack-of-skills-is-all_9081.jpg)
![“[Townies] was a great springboard, obviously, because Jenna [Elfman] went from that to Dharma & Greg, and a few years later, Lauren [Graham] went to Gilmore Girls.” quote by Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/40b/eric-mccormack-2915_dharma_townies-was-a-great-springboard-obviousl_26889.jpg)
