Dharma and Karma, Which One Should Have Priority

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DHARMA AND KARMA, WHICH ONE SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY

 

One who engages in right actions only such person is said to be upholding the

Dharma or Values. Right conduct and right actions would help him, who wants to

progress in his spiritual quest. Actions form an integral part of human beings.

As Lord Shri Krishna says in Bhagvad Geeta that “Man does not attain freedom

from action (culmination of the discipline of Action) without entering upon

action; nor does he reach perfection (culmination of the discipline of

knowledge) merely by ceasing to act” (ch 3 : stz 4). Basically there is action

even in inaction. The four objects in a mans life viz Dharma, artha, kama and

moksha can be attained by following any one of the following paths viz, karma,

dhyan, yoga and bhakti. In present context it becomes impossible to sit in one

place and concentrate on god or practice yoga where as Bhakthi or pure devotion

is achieved only when a man understands the mystic and divine creation of the

God. This requires knowledge and also ability to perceive god in all being

which is difficult in present world. This leaves man with one choice, Karma.

Karma is another way to reach the spiritual goal. Karma means engaging in

actions which would enable a man to achieve all the four objectives in his life.

One may ask how can performing action would enable a man to achieve spiritual

progression? All actions that man engages must be done consciously with the

objective of helping not just himself or his near kith and kin but also fellow

beings. A spiritual man understands that all pain and pleasure is the act of

God and that to help others and ease their pain in the time of need, share the

wealth among needy and extend love beyond his family members and considers

everybody to the embodiment of the lord such person is said to behold dharma,

and every action of his drives him to achieving his chief objectives in life.

 

The main context of Satcharita is to uphold dharma by right conduct, it tells us

how should a man conduct himself in the world while engaging in his day to day

activities. All actions of a sincere devotee arise for the purpose of following

the Dharma. Dharma and Karma are two sides of the same coin and go hand in

hand. Indulging in one leads to establishing the other. In order for a man to

uphold Dharma he has to take help of his intellect and engage in actions (karma)

that would enable him to act in a way to be able to establish righteousness in

his life. Right action leads to right conduct which thereby establishes correct

values in life. In Chapter 1 if Satcharita, Hemadpanth writes about Baba, who

says that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless there is the

prior act of grinding of all our impulses, desires, sins. The action of

grinding our undesirable virtues constitutes Karma.

 

Satcharita has the life stories of followers of Baba who in their simple love

for BABA and engaging in their activities have attained the chief objectives of

their life. Baba, the lord god on this earth who manifested to set the

righteousness in this world has set an example for His followers and act

accordingly. In answer to the prayers of the sincere and humble devotees, God

comes to the earth in the form of a saint to remove their problems and guide

them in the right path as promised by lord krishna in Bhagvat Geeta “For the

protection of the virtuous, for the extirpation of evil-does, and for

establishing Dharma (righteousness) on a firm footing. I am born from age to

age” (Bhagvad Geeta ch 4 : Stz 8).

 

The trouble with man is that when he knows or learns too much he thinks he knows

it all. One drawback of a learned man is his inflated pride or ego. P.K Shaw

once said “the trouble with the fertile mind is that the weeds grow as prolific

as the pastures.” The weeds, in spiritual context are ego, pride, and anger at

not being acknowledged that he is more learned than others. One might wonder,

being a divine man, BABA could have sat at one place without having to indulge

in any action but why did He not do so? What is the purpose behind such an

action from BABA? The answer is simple, BABA wanted to set an example to HIS

followers that one has to indulge in action in order to achieve the spiritual

goal. Also BABA wanted to teach His followers that one should use intelligence

to discriminate from right action from wrong and always consciously serve BABA

by serving His children. Events in life of BABA, as depicted in Satcharita

remind us that one should remain unperturbed in face of adverse situations, BABA

was called a mad fakir, He was stoned, and when He went to collect oil from

shopkeepers to light the lamps in His masjid, He was refused to be given any

oil. Inspite of all these hurdles BABA moved not an inch from His routine. He

did what He was doing everyday. Of course being a divine satpurusha, He was

able to light the lamps with water.

 

Satcharita shows that if one were sincere in devotion and love towards guru or

god then all the powers of the God will come to such a person without him

striving for them. BABA also showed us how to conduct oneself as a devotee and

as a disciple in the story of Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali who was puffed with pride

about his learnedness and even called BABA his disciple. Baba knew defects of

the so called “Guru”, still he never disrespected him, observing carefully his

duties. He even served the Master in various ways. This shows the humbleness

and simplicity of BABA. In order for a man to achieve the highest goal in life

one has to be humble and sincere in their quest for truth.

Our actions (prarabdha karma) performed today forms the basis of life we lead

tomorrow or in next birth. All the examples in Satcharita point us to one

direction - that Karma has a priority in our spiritually quest. Doing right

actions would enable us to uphold right values.

 

BABA bless us and guide us always in doing right actions to uphold dharma.

 

Anitha Kandukuri

Canberra, Australia

 

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