Sanskrit is a language which has many words which reflects
more than one meaning. One such word is “Dharma” which denotes both as religion
and as decree. Religion is belief system founded by someone, which a large section
of people accept under a common symbol, text and rituals. Dharma on the other
hand is more of a way of living followed since aeons. Knowledge imparted to a
person to lead a life in a certain way, based on the principle of truth is
Dharma. If Karma is the righteous action, righteous decision is Dharma. Dharma
is not to preach or teach, it is to be observed, followed and practised. Dharma
is the role I play. Dharma practised in the ancient times has a multitude of
difference from what is practised today.
Hippocratic Oath for a doctor becomes the Dharma of
a doctor. Likewise there is oath that a politician, a lawyer, a policeman, a
soldier takes which becomes Dharma of that particular person. Even for a man, who
accepts a job, be it as a C.E.O or a clerk the job description becomes his
Dharma. Sometimes, the role is self-chosen and sometimes the role is a result
due to the karmas of the previous life. Anything that is goes against the oath that
involves cheating, deceiving, misleading where the person gets off the
spiritual track is called Adharma. Above all, honesty is the highest Dharma.
An individual who is aware of “Who am I?” with
the knowledge of karma and knowing that he is just an instrumental cause and
his role here is temporary, he discharges his duties without expecting fruits
(profit and loss), attachment or aversion to that deed. Those who identify with
the roles played and consider them to be permanent are the ones who are deluded.
“Sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja” says
Sri Krishna to Arjuna. Now what does Dharman mean here? Many translations refer
this word to religion. It is mere common sense to know that at that time there
was only Sanatana Dharma. What Sri Krishna mean is that after you perform
whatever actions you have to perform as per your dharma, give up the attachment
to that Dharma also.
It means, suppose I practice Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga, and then I may in time also get a small ego. This ego triggers in me to brag
that I am doing the right thing by practising them so I am sure of reaching the highest goal. Though I may be righteous in all my actions I should very well
think that I am same as another person who is not practising them. In order to develop
this kind of attitude I should renounce all the Dharma that I practice (after practising it), it is like unlearning. In short it is like doing what I think
is right and to just leaving it without thinking that I have done the right
thing.
For example, in a traffic signal at the turn of red light a beggar approaches
my vehicle. In order to help him I hand him over Rs.10 note. The owner of the
other vehicle may reprimand me for encouraging the begging and making him lazy. He might be right too or may be my action was better, neither do I nor the person who lectured me know for sure if the beggar really
was needy. Also my small part of contribution cannot fulfil all his needs, so truthful
to my conscience it is better to leave (Parityajya) the rest to Him without having
pride of doing a great thing and branding myself a generous person……..What
say???
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