Dear Friends,
Namaste!
Playing our role to the hilt, on the stage that this world is, is called in Yogic terminology as “Dharma”. Because that is what keeps the show going. And “Dharma”, by its very definition, keeps the show going. (“Dharayati Iti Dharmah” – That which sustains, nurtures, evolves and enriches Life is called “Dharma”).
Before identifying our specific “Dharma”, let us see how various roles played out by different characters are interconnected and indeed interdependent.
The central principle for all Dharma or interconnection and interdependence of all roles is “Live and Let Live”. In order to live, we are dependent on our environment. In turn, we also (should) contribute to the environment and enable its survival and sustenance. In short, we are indebted to our environment and we pay back our debt. And when every being does that, Life goes on through this amazing symbiosis. When every character plays the role, the show goes on and journey (evolution) for each one of us continues.
The science of Yoga has classified this debt that we must pay back, in three categories. It is important to understand these categories because they will further shed light on what our role should be with respect to each of the categories and how we should resolve conflicts in the rare cases that these categories warrant us to take diametrically opposite actions in a particular situation.
This debt has a Yogic synonym called “Rina”. A human being is bound by three “Rina”s during a lifetime and must pay back each one of them. They are as follows:
1. “Pitru Rina” (Debt of our ancestors)
We are born because of our parents. Our parents, in turn, are born because of their parents. And so on. This is a great favour our parents and ancestors have done to us. By giving us birth, they have enabled us to go further in our journey from “Satya” (Relative Reality) to “Sat” (Absolute Reality), from “Chitta” (Individual Consciousness) to “Chit” (Universal Consciousness), from “Sukham” (Individual Bliss) to “Anand” (Eternal and Infinite Happiness), from imperfection to perfection, from finite to infinite, from a limited identity (“Jeeva”) to limitless identity (“Shiva” or “Brahman the Energy”).
As an aside, we will do well to remember the classical definition of Yoga. It is “Yogah Chitta Vritti Nirodhah” (Controlling the wavering of and hence mastering our Individual Consciousness is Yoga). For, this activity alone leads us from the relative to absolute truth, to universal consciousness, to enlightenment, to eternal and infinite bliss (“Samadhi”). And we have discussed how meditation (“Dhyan”) is a pre-requisite to “Samadhi”. How concentration (“Dharana”) is a pre-requisite to meditation. How sense-control (“Pratyahar”) is a pre-requisite to concentration. How breath-control (“Pranayam”) is a pre-requisite to sense-control. How steady (“Sthira”) and comfortable (“Sukham”) posture(s) (“Asana”) is a pre-requisite to breath-control. How individual discipline (“Niyama”) is a pre-requisite to body-control. How a strong value-system (“Yama”) lays the foundation for individual discipline, We are familiar with the Yoga-ladder now!
So, it is our ancestors who have bestowed on us this wonderful opportunity to progress, to live and let live, to enjoy and let enjoy. Indeed, we cannot thank them enough and must pay back the debt the best we can!
2. “Rishi Rina” (Debt of our teachers/coaches/mentors/
What were we when we were born? Not much. We did not have much physical strength, we did not have any knowhow about surviving itself leave alone with any self-respect. We knew nothing about nothing!
Then there came angel like personalities who groomed us. Physically, mentally, intellectually! We could stand on our own feet. We understood what makes the world tick. We got knowledge and skills that enabled us to become something and someone.
Imagine what would have happened if these teachers had not imparted the knowledge to us. We must therefore be greatly indebted to our teachers, in whatever shape and form, who are enabling us to live a fulfilling life. Not for nothing, Yoga-Shastra proclaims unequivocally (“Acharya Devo Bhava” – Teachers are God personified!). We owe an enormous lot to our ‘teachers’!
3. “Samaj Rina” (Debt of our society/country/environment)
Although their contribution to our well-being may sometimes be indirect or out-of-our-sight, the help we derive from our society/country/environment must never go out-of-our-mind. Even when we are helping out, let alone receiving help, we constantly draw or build upon the effort of hundreds of others in order to complete meaningful activities.
Someone has laid the road for us to walk on. Someone has established law and order in our surroundings so we can sleep peacefully. Clouds gather, it rains and that water, through someone’s effort, comes to our taps for drinking!
The world rumbles on so we can live and let live, enjoy and let enjoy! We must pay back!! We must protect our environment!!!
Relax and reflect...
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