Dear Friends,
Namaste!
We now know what “Dharma” is and what its types are.
We have also converged on what Dharma types to follow on a moment-to-moment basis.
But our discussion on “Dharma” is far from over. One very important aspect must be discussed. Given that there is an overlap among “Guna-Dharma” (our liking), “Vishesh-Dharma” (our duty) and “Samanya-Dharma” (larger interests) and also given that we play multiple roles simultaneously in our lives, there arise cases when the roles are at conflict. The “Dharma”s are at war with one another!
For example, a mother sometimes has to confront her son who has committed a sin or a crime. What should she do? Her “Guna-Dharma” makes her naturally affectionate towards her son. However, her “Vishesh-Dharma” warns her that in her role as a mother, she must scold or punish the erring son so he never repeats “A-Dharma” ever again. The two “Dharma”s are at conflict. Should “Guna-Dharma” prevail and the mother should forgive and forget or should “Vishesh-Dharma” dominate and the mother should give him a piece of her mind?
Another example can be taken to highlight conflict between “Vishesh-Dharma” and “Samanya-Dharma”. If the organization we are working for starts doing illegal things (such as evading taxes) for whatever so-called valid reasons, should we as loyal employees support our organization or should we side with our government and bring our organization to book?
And a third example can be taken of conflict between one’s “Guna-Dharma” and “Samanya-Dharma”. There may be something that we like doing that may be harmful to environment (to take an example, worshipping Ganesha clay idols for ten days during Ganesha festival and then immersing them in rivers or sea). Should we respect tradition and emotions of our near and dear ones and go by our liking and continue with immersion of clay idols into rivers/seas or should we change the way we celebrate this festival so environment is protected?
Fortunately for us, Yoga-Shastra lays down guidelines that are so unambiguous that they are extremely easy to understand and follow. The precedence among the three basic Dharma types is as follows:
1. If there is a conflict between “Guna-Dharma” and “Vishesh-Dharma”, then “Vishesh-Dharma” must prevail
2. If there is a conflict between “Vishesh-Dharma” and “Samanya-Dharma”, then “Samanya-Dharma” must prevail
3. If there is a conflict between “Guna-Dharma” and “Samanya-Dharma”, then “Samanya-Dharma” must prevail
Thus, it is very clear that “Samanya-Dharma” (Larger Interests) must prevail at all times and must not be compromised at any rate.
This is another cardinal principle in “Karma Yoga” (Yoga of Right Action). We will discuss technicalities of “Karma Yoga” in far more detail later on. For now, let’s take well-known examples and apply these principles to see whether the actions taken by the concerned characters were right or wrong.
What is amazing about all these examples is the fact that in each case the Law of Karma has worked without fail or exception. People who have taken correct decisions and acted as per the above principles have progressed. On the other hand, people who violated the principles have been punished!
The following fable from Aesop brings out conflict management between urge to do as one likes (“Guna-Dharma”) and performance of one’s duty (“Vishesh-Dharma”):
In a field one summer's day a grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. A group of ants walked by, grunting as they struggled to carry plump kernels of corn. "Where are you going with those heavy things?" asked the grasshopper. Without stopping, the first ant replied, "To our ant hill. This is the third kernel I've delivered today." "Why not come and sing with me," teased the grasshopper, "instead of working so hard?" | |
"We are helping to store food for the winter," said the ant, "and think you should do the same." "Winter is far away and it is a glorious day to play," sang the grasshopper. But the ants went on their way and continued their hard work. The weather soon turned cold. All the food lying in the field was covered with a thick white blanket of snow that even the grasshopper could not dig through. Soon the grasshopper found itself dying of hunger. He staggered to the ants' hill and saw them handing out corn from the stores they had collected in the summer. He begged them for something to eat. "What!" cried the ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?" "I didn't have time to store any food," complained the grasshopper; "I was so busy playing music that before I knew it the summer was gone." The ants shook their heads in disgust and said, “In summer, you sang! Now it’s winter, so you can dance!!!” | |
Sayonara...
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