Dharma & Swadharma
स्वधर्म : Lets See try to understand the concept.
In Gita it is declared : स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः
What this suggests is that it’s better to even perish doing one’s own (स्व ) duty(धर्म) . It’s
Frightening to take upon duty (धर्म) of other person( पर).
Question is How do I ascertain my duty (स्वधर्म ); How do I distinguish it from duty of others (परधर्म) ?
We need to realise that Nature has been designed to have Harmony of Unity and Diversity. ( एकता और विविधता का समन्वय )
There is UNITY एकता , We are One ( तत् तवम् असि YOU are THAT , सो अहम् I am THAT , अहम् ब्रह्म अस्मि I am Brahma ) , We have Unity, Solidarity . I and you ONE in that we both are are HUMANS , I and Bird Both are ONE in that both are LIVING BEINGs
There is DIVERSITY विविधता as well. Variety ,विभिन्नता . My Fingers are all Different. Your Face Is Different from All Others , I can Walk, Birds can Fly.
Since we are all diverse , naturally our nature are also diverse.
So we need to have unique Dharma for Our own.
How to decide on that Uniqueness of MY Dharma स्वधर्म
My Duty = f (Time, Period,Age, Situation, Circumstances,Energy, Knowledge, Station in Life, Tendency, Capability, Aptitude, etc. )
स्वधर्म अनेक अवयवों , कारकों घटकों पर निर्भर करता है : अत:
स्वधर्म = f ( समय ,अवधि , काल – युग – कलियुग, त्रेता युग इत्यादि , आयु, स्थिति, परिस्थितियाँ, ऊर्जा स्तर , कितना ज्ञान है , आश्रम – जैसे ब्रह्मचर्य, गृहस्थ , वानप्रस्थ , संन्यास, वर्ण – जैसे ब्राह्मण , क्षत्रिय, वैश्य, शूद्र, , ब, प्रवृत्ति, क्षमता, योग्यता आदि)
Since so many factors are into play, we can go absolutely wrong if we blindly imitate others i.e. we need to be Aware or conscious ( सचेतन ) of our own special and unique situation. As such it’s said in Gita that it is Frightening to take up duty of others.
Frightening – because you can can go wrong due to so may reasons.
Take the case of J.K.Rowling of Harry Potter fame.
Before that Book became a sensation and brought her close to A Billion of Dollar, she was extremely poor. Single Mother – One girl child she deeply cared for – One House – with not enough of Heating in cold country but No or very little income )
What did she say at Harvard Commencement Address . When she was in shopping mall, her first instinct was to Steal that packet of milk so that she could feed her baby. She did not steal but lets change the story a bit ..
Suppose she had stolen the Milk and got caught.
Now Say YOU are the Judge But Not of any Court of India or USA but In Open Assembly and 600 crore Humans on earth are listening to you to pass judgment based on What GITA Says.
What will you say ? What judgement will you pass.
What she did was it Her Dharma or Was it NOT her Dharma ?
What was her स्वधर्म in that situation.
Should she let her baby die ? What about माँ का धर्म ? What about मानव धर्म , saving a starving baby ?
Next Now that She is Rich.
Suppose she steals now out of habit ?
Has she not denied the Seller of his rightful profit ?
So
To decide one’s स्वधर्म , one needs to be careful and be aware of one’s own self
Some Tips :
धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः। , Protect Dharma , It will protect you.
धर्म – It is what sustains.
Expanded Self : In general the More Selfless you behave, the More have you Followed Dharma . Because Then You are including more and more others into your fold and when you have included all You have reached “Brahma “
Position of Strength : Start where you are. Start from your position of Strength. Let you ideal be high but be practical and decide on स्वधर्म based on the स्वधर्म function as above i.e. your unique position. However strive to make the स्वधर्म as close to ideal as possible or closer to Truth and If You can’t do that in practice now , Don’t loose heart , don’t justify अधर्म but slowly and steadily grow up in Purity, Wisdom, Strength, विद्या , शक्ति, बल, ज्ञान etc and in time you will be more धार्मिक।
One typical example :
Situation /Case : You are a young unmarried adult. You have completed your graduation. You need to earn to support your family.
Question of स्वधर्म : How should you earn ?
Right answer : Be light unto yourself. गौतम बुद्ध ने “आत्म दीपो भव” यानि अपना दीपक स्वयं बनो का सूत्र दिया है। Only You can answer. It’s something no one can tell exactly though people can suggest. No one can exactly tell because no one knows your unique position or situation.
One suggested Method : You need to be more and more aware of yourself. Swamiji already suggests a method and this is summarised in it’s logo & Mission Statement and that can be taken as ideal. Strive to reach closer to ideal with progression of time. Now for the practical part , your unique situation or position in life arrive at the स्वधर्म at this moment, after one year , after 10 years etc.
Factors at Play in this case
वर्ण : ब्राह्मण By Birth also, by caste also , by स्वभाव also.
आश्रम : ब्रह्मचर्य + गृहस्थ ब्रह्मचर्य ( Still unmarried and partly a student) and mostly a गृहस्थ ( Supporting dependent family members or earning for supporting family in future)
अवस्था – Need to Earn.
परिस्थिति –
क्षमता – Can teach. Love of study. Can write and speak decently well. Qualified graduate.
Modified वर्ण – Due to Unique situation today
शूद्र : Become an Employee of someone. Take up contract work. Take up tuitions. Sell your service. Give your time, energy and in exchange earn money.
वैश्य : Become an entrepreneur. A business person. Employ People or partner with people. You provide Capital – Knowledge capital , money,infrastructure etc. Bring about Man, Money, Machines, Material etc and take a profit.
क्षत्रिय : Mobilise people, Gain Power. Provide resource to Education Sector and others too.
ब्राह्मण : Do fundamental research. Find Insights , Share . Provide consultancy , Advice others of शूद्र , वैश्य ,क्षत्रिय and ब्राह्मण class. To honour your ज्ञान , They will fulfil all your needs for power, money, name and fame.
So based on your tendency, interest , capability, intensity, energy level, buddhi, etc you will be be most spontaneous if you choose based on your स्वभाव else you will feel miserable in mismatched work situation.
But then there is a way out of this complexity :
If You are able to Do Work more and more in Spirit of Karma Yoga, If you are able to Apply your buddhi more and more , if you are able to control your mind more and more, if you are able to control the senses more and more, : You can be sure you are slowly and steadily moving towards the Goal of life as pointed out by Sri Ramakrishna – ईश्वर लाभ जीवन का ध्येय है . And Then Any work that naturally comes to you is Good Enough. Like we study in Mahabharta – The story of व्याध , सन्यासी और गृहिणी – व्याध गीता।
Some References :
The ideals of RK Mission :
Motto / Mission Statement of RK Mission :
आत्मनो मोक्षार्थम् जगत्-हिताय च one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world
Logo of RK Mission –
Reach through Yoga – कर्मयोग, राजयोग, भक्तियोग, ज्ञानयोग, Work, Psychic Control of Mind, Worship, Knowledge. Do it by one or more all of these.
धर्म :
Religion, Righteousness ,मज़हब,संप्रदाय, न्याय परायणी,
Duty,virtue – कर्त्तव्य , सदाचार, गुण, भलाई, धर्म, नैतिक सदगुण, शील
Attribute,Quality – गुण, धर्म
Nature – प्रकृति, स्वभाव, स्वरूप, रूप
स्वधर्म = स्व + धर्म ; स्वयं का धर्म
स्वधर्म पालन – अपने धर्म का पालन करना , या खुद का फर्ज़ अदा करना
परधर्म = पर + धर्म
परधर्म पालन – अन्य किसी के , दूसरे के धर्म का पालन करना , या किसी और के फर्ज़ की पैरवी करना
Gita : स्वल्प अपि अस्य धर्मस्य , त्रायते महतो भयात्
Gita
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।3.35।।
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात्।।2.40।।
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन।
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्।।2.41।।
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः।
तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत्।। (मनुस्मृति 8/15)