DHARMA AND KARMA, WHICH ONE SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY Part 02

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DHARMA AND KARMA, WHICH ONE SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY Part 02

 

One who engages only in right actions 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 man’s 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 whereas 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 beings which is

difficult in the 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 enable a man to achieve spiritual

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

objective of helping not just himself or his 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 consider

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.

 

Sai Satcharita tells us how 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 the 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 of Sai Satcharita,

Hemadpant 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.

 

Sai 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 has set an example

for His followers to 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 the 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 for 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 the life of

Baba, as depicted in Sai Satcharita remind us that one should remain unperturbed

in the 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, they refused to give 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.

 

Sai 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 the 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 humility 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 form the basis of the life we lead

tomorrow or in next birth. All the examples in Sai 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.