Tattva

There are two kinds of people in this world, some who understand the cause of true happiness and most who think happiness always depends on external objects. Some spend their entire life looking for the best house or the most secured neighborhood or even the right car, assuming it will bring us utmost happiness. But a very few realize the source of true happiness. Happiness is ones state of mind, just like anger or sadness. So the source of happiness is from within our mind, not any external source. It can be said that the path to happiness is the path of dharma.

Dharma is a force that sustains this universe. Wherever there is dharma, we can unearth harmony and balance, both individually and socially. Dharma is a universal principle that lives in all societies, allowing for peace and brotherhood to grow among all people, not just certain religions.

Hindus for Dharma

If one studies today’s society, we can say that dharma is gradually declining from the age of the ancient days to this day. In his dying speech, Bhishma tells Yudhishthira that in the fourth age of kaliyuga (our present age), “dharma becomes adharma and adharma, dharma”. If we live in on the basis of lust greed, and to accumulate possessions, money, and sensual pleasure by the demands of the mind and senses, it will become difficult to follow the path of dharma. People are becoming gradually more restless and out of balance. The guilt that they contain is so large that they are concealed from the world of happiness. Hence, applying dharma to modern life can be easier said than done. It’s hard to practice dharma when the car breaks down in the middle of an unknown road or the computer crashes without saving your work. Earning money is a stressful negotiation between necessity and greed. The world is full of egoism, materialism, and hatred. In the modern world, carried away by the mechanical way of living, people don’t care for nature, culture and art, which is the root cause for all the problems they are facing and suffering today.

Dharma Explained

Dharma is not an old fashioned religious tradition or blind beliefs. When man follows the righteous path, and rid of his bad traits, then he will be able to experience peace, love, and forbearance. Here is an example of practicing Dharma. The meaning of Dharma can best be identified in the story of a yogi and the scorpion. A yogi was performing his regular routine of taking a bath in the river, while his followers waited for him on the shore. When the yogi noticed a fallen scorpion in the water, the yogi immediately picked up the scorpion. In spite of the intense pain of the scorpion sting racing through his veins, the great yogi waded through the water towards the shore, and rescued the scorpion. His followers watched, surprised at the Yogi’s determination to help the scorpion. The confused followers rushed to the struggling yogi, only to see a smile of content on the yogi’s face. One of them asked him how he can still smile after almost being killed by the very scorpion he rescued. The yogi responded that the scorpion was only following its dharma, or nature, which is to sting. Also, the dharma of a yogi, which was to save the life of the scorpion, was followed. Dharma is a natural instinct in all of us that stimulates us to act at a subconscious level, without thinking.

It is said that, anything that helps a human being to reach God is dharma. In this same context anything that stops a human being from reaching God is adharma. For instance, in the epic poem Mahabharat, the Pandavas represent dharma and the Kauravas represent adharma. The Kauravas achieved their purpose by deceitful means and by unnecessary violence, which is adharma. On the other hand, the Pandavas followed the path of Dharma and resorted to war only after all the peaceful means of conflict resolution failed.

Many times we cannot identify what is dharma and what is not. At times of great stress it can seem impossible. Though the definition of dharma itself is unchanged and eternal, the terms right and wrong are relative to time, social conditions, and the laws of the land. To kill an enemy is duty for a Kshatriya king. A Sannyasin on the other hand, should not kill, but may offer himself to save the world from the evil just as how the Buddha transformed the life of Angulimala, a cruel killer, by offering his own life to the killer. When Angulimala is about to kill the Buddha, he asks Angulimala to cut the branch of a tree as his last wish. The Buddha then asks the killer to place it back exactly as it was. Angulimala is surprised at this strange wish and tells the Buddha that it is not possible to replace the cut branch. Buddha wisely replies, “You kill people, but can you make them alive again? So, why do you do this?” Thus Angulimala is convinced and becomes a disciple of the Buddha.

Another example of practicing dharma is Yudhishthir(Dharmaraja) of Mahabharata who never diverged from the path of dharma. When four of his brother are killed by drinking the water from Yaksha’s lake, Yudhishthir tries to save them by answering all the questions of Yaksha. Impressed by the character of Yudhishthir, the Yaksha grants him a boon: “One of your dead brothers can now be revived. Whom do you want to revive?” Yudhishtira asks for the life of Nakula, after thinking for a while. The yaksha asks him: “Instead of your favorite brothers like Bhima, Arjuna, whose prowess in arms is your protection, why do you choose Nakula instead?”. Yudhishthir replied: “Kunti and Madri were the two wives of my father. I am surviving son of Kunti, and so she is not completely bereaved. In order that the scales of justice may be even, I ask that Madri’s son Nakula may revive.” The Yaksha was delighted with Yudhishthir and granted that all his brothers would come back to life. Even though it was a difficult time, he followed his duty. This is a fine example of facing the hurdles in life that mislead you from the path of dharma.

Incentives for Dharma

“Honesty pays, but people do not have the patience to practice it” – said Swami Vivekananda. Though the results are slow, person of dharma realizes the Self, understands one’s nature, does all work as perfectly as possible, and lives a full life with happiness. That is why dharma is very important and necessary for everyone. Incentives of Dharma are visible to only those who follow it. The quote, “Don’t know till you try” applies in this situation. We need to think about dharma before we do anything. So, before gambling, dharma says, “Gambling is bad. You lose money and credibility. Your good name will be destroyed.” Until and unless the gambler understands this, he is bound to suffer. Another example of suffering would be when a person buys the most demanding car; only to see his neighbor’s car, which happens to be better than his car. Now this person’s happiness suddenly disappeared since someone else has a better car than him. This is fake happiness; the true happiness comes from the inner soul. Some have not experienced this happiness yet, but they will not know the feeling without seeking it first. Whoever practices Dharma finds the peace, joy, strength, and tranquility within themselves.

There are three important aspects to dharma.

• Discover true Self

• Express individual talents

• Service to humanity

‘Victory of Dharma’ could be understood, as employed by the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka, in his rock edict at Kalsi that proclaimed his achievement in terms of the moral and ethical imperatives of Dharma.

The concept of Dharma encompasses all aspects of our lives. Even politics can be based on the principles of Dharma. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was widely believed to have been a non-religious type, wrote in the introduction to a book- Socialism in Indian Planning, by Srimannarayan Agarwal: “

In India it is important for us to profit by modern technical processes and increase our production in agriculture and industry. But, in doing so, we must not forget that the essential objective to be aimed at, is the quality of the individual and the concept of Dharma underlying it.

” The concept of Dharma would definitely be a better foundation to build a modern society! Dharma is the first of the four personal aims to be realized during the course of one’s lifetime known as chaturvidha phala purushaartha i.e. Dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Thus Dharma is the very core of Hindu code of behavior and Hindu view of life, which according to Dr. Radhakrishnan is “an attempt to discover the ideal possibilities of human life.”

While truth, non-violence and forbearance are great values; they should not be taken to the extreme. Instead, we must use God given commonsense when practicing dharma. To execute a dacoit who murders wayfarers daily might be the right kind of law. Krishna, after all the peaceful means are exhausted, recommends Pandavas to wage a war and kill the evil Kauravas. So for the greater good of the society, it is sometimes essential to follow one’s commonsense. Bhishma on the bed of arrows speaks to Yudhishthira, somewhat paradoxically, “

If one fights against trickery, one should oppose him with trickery. But if one fights lawfully, one should check him with dharma … One should conquer evil with good. Death by dharma is better than victory by evil deeds.”

Dharma is the harmony of thought, word and deed. This is the mark of true humanness. Protecting dharma is an essential duty of every individual and society. Without dharma, the life does not continue. Hence great sages have toiled to save dharma forever. Today’s societies must continue that spirit.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha… Dharma protects those who protect it!

References

- “Renaissance of Hindu Dharma” http://www.vivekanandagospel.org/Renaissanceofhindudharma.pdf

- “Glory of Sanatana Dharma” http://www.classicalyoga.org/glory_of_sanatana_dharma.htm

- Williams, David (ed). Peter Brook and the Mahabharata: Critical Perspectives. 1991.

Soumya Murag is 14 years old and lives in Cupertino, California USA. She attends Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh’s weekly Shakha and is an active participant. You can reach her at soumyamurag@gmail.com.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 12:31 am and is filed under Editorials/Reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.