Dear Friends,
Namaste!
What? Yoga principles can be used in making the perfect choice as far as our profession, our career, is concerned?? Are we out of our minds???
The answer is a resounding “Of course”! Let’s see how.
And as promised, let’s start this discussion with a little more insight into the following Dharma types:
1. “Swa-Dharma” (our role)
2. “Apad-Dharma” (role in emergencies)
3. “Para-Dharma” (somebody else’s role)
1. “Swa-Dharma” (our role)
Plainly put, it is the intersection of or the common ground among one’s Aptitude (“Guna-Dharma”), Altitude (“Vishesh-Dharma”) and Amplitude (“Samanya-Dharma”).
“Swa-Dharma” must be practised at all times, places and costs! With every breath that we breathe, with every step that we take, with every thought we think, with every word we utter and with every little activity that we do!!
This is one of the most important principles or axioms in “Karma-Yoga” (“Yoga of Right Action”).
In simple words, it means this – whatever we do must gel with our “core”, must be relevant to our specific position in the society and must be benevolent in its overall impact, in larger interests!
One practical application of this principle can be in choosing our career or profession. Do I genuinely like my profession? Have I acquired the necessary skills and expertise to excel in it? Will this profession be beneficial to me, my family, my society, my country, my universe? These three questions are necessary (and sufficient) to choose our profession. If the answer to all these three questions is an unequivocal “YES!”, then we are in the right business – we are doing our “Swa-Dharma”!!
The same principle applies to the roles we play in our personal life as well. This enables us to be the right person in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. And by the law of Karma (every action has an equal and opposite reaction), the result of right action must always be right!
Therefore, following “Swa-Dharma” at all times enables us to be completely happy, healthy and prosperous. Indeed, it might not be an exaggeration to state that that’s the best chance we have got and it’s the only way!
Not for nothing, Lord Krishna has stated (as we saw during the last discussion but it’s so important that the temptation to repeat it is simply irresistible!), “Swa-Dharme Nidhanam Shreyah, Para-Dharmo Bhayavahah” (‘Even death while performing our role is a better option than trying to perform roles that are not ours!’).
2. “Apad-Dharma” (role in emergencies)
“Apada” means a calamity. “Dharma” as we have seen is a life-sustaining activity. Therefore, “Apad-Dharma” means activities to be performed to overcome calamities. Naturally, we may have to perform “Apad-Dharma” only when there is an emergency – not otherwise. (At all other times, we must perform “Swa-Dharma”).
But why not continue to perform “Swa-Dharma” even during calamities if it is so beneficial? What is really the difference between “Apad-Dharma” and “Swa-Dharma”?
Let’s first understand the answer to the second question so that the way for the answer to the first question will be paved. We discussed that “Swa-Dharma” is an intersection among our Aptitude, Altitude and Amplitude.
Well, “Apad-Dharma” is the intersection between our Altitude and Amplitude only (specifically, it is not our Aptitude). Sometimes, situation forces us to be engaged in activities that we really do not enjoy doing. But for the larger interests we have to perform those activities. We have to use our wits, skills, expertise and wherewithal to perform those activities to survive, sustain, progress, overcome the situation so Life can go on! Such activities are classified as “Apad-Dharma”.
The question is – do we have to follow “Apad-Dharma” in all emergencies. No!If we have the option of following our “Swa-Dharma” to conquer the situation, we MUST NOT revert to “Apad-Dharma”. Only when following “Swa-Dharma” does not allow us to come out of the problem in flying colours must we resort to following “Apad-Dharma” and as soon as the situation passes, we must revert back to following our “Swa-Dharma”!
3. “Para-Dharma” (somebody else’s role)
“Para” means “other”. Hence “Para-Dharma” underpins all the roles that are very beneficial to Existence but for which we neither have the aptitude not the training! In the absence of these two, trying to play these roles can be ineffective in the best case and simply disastrous (“Bhayavah” as stated by the Lord) in the worst!
Some roles may appear quite glamorous, exciting, charitable etc. However, we must always remember that sauce for the goose may not necessarily be sauce for the gander! And stick to our “Swa-Dharma” and consciously avoid “Para-Dharma”.
Having seen the definitions of various Dharma types, let’s move on to discussing examples that will make these concepts clear like a crystal.
So watch this space and take good care of yourselves...
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