Karma in all simplicity means Action. In the Vedanta
philosophy, it has subtler connotation of 'cause and effect' tag. The birth and
death cycle is decided by the actions of past, present and future. Our sages had
propounded various yogas, paths for salvation - Karma (Action), Bhakti (Devotion), Raja
(Meditation), Jnana (Wisdom).
The Karma yogi has to indulge in day to day actions on
righteous path. His actions should not
be selfish, instead they are to be oriented towards the benefit of the other beings. No attachment or anticipation for the actions done by him. Here, a word about 'Swadharma'. It may be construed as performing of actions or duties by a person behoved of his or her Varnashrama dharrna (righteous actions laid down in each of the four tier caste system). For example, 'fighting in war' was Swadharma of Kshatriya caste. Hence Arjuna being a Kshatriya was asked by Krishna to honour his Swadharma. Of course, with the crumbling down of the water tight compartment nature of the casteism, the notion of Swadharma lost its relevance any more in the modern progressive Hindu society. Any person is entitled to any vocation purely based on the merits of his or her professional/technical skills. However, we have to remember one thing. Though Swadharma is no more in practice, nevertheless the process of Illumination entails observation of performing of virtuous actions, even today. A story from Mahabharata on how Swadharma (prescribed
duty in one’s life) lead to Self Illumination.... .
' Once a Brahmin by name Koushika sat under a
tree performing japa. A crane perched on the tree inadvertently cast its
droppings on him. The young Brahmin got infuriated and looked at the crane
angrily. On account of the psychic power
acquired by the Brahmin the poor crane was burnt down. Later the brahmin set
off for alms to the nearby village. When he stood before a house and shouted ’Mata! Biksham Dehi.’ (O mother! Grant me alms.), the housewife
replied politely from within, ‘Please wait for a while’, since she was engrossed with
serving her sick husband on bed at that time. However the young Brahmin being
annoyed at the answer was contemplating to show his power on her. But sooner he heard her say from within the
house, ‘I am not the crane to be burnt down by you’. He wondered about how she
knew the crane episode. When she came out of the house to serve him alms, he
begged for her pardon and requested to explain about her revelation. She told him that she didn’t perform any
austerities but practised swadharma (prescribed duties) of service to the
elders, father in law, mother in law and husband with full devotion by which
she was bestowed with Illumination. She further advised him to go and meet one
by name Dharma Vyadha in Mithila for better enlightenment of righteousness. Koushika reached Mithila and found to his astonishment that Vyadha was a butcher by
profession. He was surprised even more when he said, ‘You are sent by that
lady, isn’t it?’ After completion of his
day’s business at the butcher shop, he took the Brahmin to his house, requested
him to wait for a while till he completed service to his old aged parents and came
back to the Brahmin after finishing his duties. Vyadha enlightened on dharma thus…
"No duty is ugly, no duty is impure. It’s only the way in which work is done that
determines its worth.
All work must be done by ‘dedicating to god’.
By sincere and unattached performance of the allotted
duty one can become Illuminated.
Ahimsa (non violence) and Satya (Truth) are two
pillars of dharma by which highest good of all can be achieved.
A decision on what is true under difficult
circumstances should be made by sticking to that course of action which leads
to the highest good of beings.
Finally, Its not birth but dharma (virtuous conduct) that makes one a
Brahmin." '
My exhortation to my fellow seekers is that anybody
with good intentions and determination can imbibe the above few noble traits
for a good cause of Self Illumination !
Kousika and Vyadha (11.10.'15)
Om Shanti!
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