DHARMA: THE BED-ROCK OF CONSCIOUSNESS by Amma

December 4, 2003

DHARMA: THE BED-ROCK OF CONSCIOUSNESS

By Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani

Especially prepared for the Twelfth Annual Yoga Festival 2004 to be conducted by the Government of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, India.

Any in-depth study of the human mind must of necessity contemplate the concept of Dharma, which is not only a personal but also a Universal Law. Just as abiding within man-made law gives stability to society, so also abiding within the framework of Cosmic Law gives stability to the human mind and personality. “Dharma” literally means “that which endures”. “Sanatana Dharma” is another term used in Sanskrit, which means-the Eternal Law. It cannot be broken. Those misguided and arrogant human egos which attempt to break this Law, will find themselves instead broken over the Law. How does one know the Eternal Law has been broken? The consequences are there for all to see. Unhappiness, restlessness, illness, stress, mental and emotional disorders, disharmony, confusion, blatant escapism etc.

No one can plead ignorance of the Law of Dharma. As in human jurisprudence, “ignorance of the law is no excuse”. Just as a citizen of a social unit has a duty to be aware of the laws of his community and abide by them, so also man has a similar duty to be aware of the Laws of the Universe and must abide by them or face the consequences. Nature forces man to abide by Her Laws. In actual fact, man has no choice. It is literally, “Do Or Die”. Disobedience of Natural Law ensures harsh, often instantaneous punishment, as anyone who has tried to defy gravity by jumping off a step cliff soon discovers. What is the Law, what is this Dharma? The answer to this question is not a final, static one but an ever-unfolding, ever-deepening awareness of more and more subtle levels. As consciousness expands and refines, so also the concept of Dharma expand and refines. The

Jewish prophet Moses carved very crude laws of Dharma, the Ten Commandments on stone tablets to control the wild, animal passions of his unruly tribe with basic restraints. “Do not kill” “Do not steal” “Do not commit adultery”. These are Dharmic laws in the most basic sense, an attempt to curb barbaric appetites which unrestrained would lead to death, destruction, chaos, and misery. This Jewish law of Dharma, which also included “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” became, more refined with the advent of Jesus the Christ, who said, “I come not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it,” “Jesus the Christ tried to refine this crude Dharmic Law with one more exquisite and subtle. “Do unto others, as thou would have them do unto you” and “Love god above all things and thy neighbour as thyself” and “If a man smiteth thee on one check, turn the other, that he may smiteth thee there as well”. Ahimsa, the Hindu concept of

non-violence, was the refinement that Jesus the Christ brought to the crude Dharmic law of Moses.

Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, was said to be the very embodiment of Dharma. Dharma implies that one willfully chooses to perform the right action, at the right moment in the right manner, no matter how much personal sacrifice such an action may entail. The classic example of this is Rama’s cheerful willingness to forego his kingdom and accept fourteen years of exile in the forests, in order to fulfill the pledge his father, king Dasaratha, made to Rama’s step-mother Quen Kaikeyi. The essence of Truth, Satya, is keeping one’s word. What one says, or promises, or vows, or pledges, that one is duty-bound, bound by the laws of Dharma, to perform, even at the cost of one’s life. Thus, Lord Rama with heroic even-mindedness, gave up his crown and his kingdom so that his father’s promise might be honoured. At the moment of his departure to the forest Rama’s own

inconsolate mother Khaushalya blessed her valiant son with these brave, true words: “May that Dharma which thou has protected so heroically, now protect thee”. Thus comes the saying in Hindu culture, “Dharma protects those who protect it” This is the Universal Law, the Universal Truth. One who upholds Dharma will always be safe, in the cosmic sense, in the Universal perspective. Even though from the human view point such a person may appear to be suffering, they are actually undergoing spiritual purification which enables them to ascend to higher and more noble planes of consciousness and existence. Thus, Rama’s nobility earned for him everlasting glory. It is for this that it is said, “Rama is the Lion of Dharma”.

Dharma implies stability. The symbol of Dharma is the bull. Hence, Dharma is balanced on Chatus-Pada, or “four-legs”. The four legs of Dharma are “Tapas” – Austerity; Karuna-Compassion; Saucham-purity and Satyam-Truth”. The Bull Nandi is the vehicle of Lord Shiva. The word “Shiva” means “Goodness,” “auspiciousness” “Shiva” is the embodiment of goodness. What is good? Something which we think is “good” today, we may think is “bad” tomorrow. Usually, men mistake the “good” for merely “the pleasant”. Three pieces of chocolate cake “taste good today” but are “bad” tomorrow when they cause a belly ache. Yama, the Lord of Death, who interestingly enough, is also called “Dharmaraj” or the “Lord of Dharma” cautions that great spiritual seeker Nichiketas; “Do not mistake the pleasant for the good”. The knower of Dharma must be able to distinguish the “good” from the

“pleasant” and he must always, if he wishes to “protect Dharma” choose the “good”. What is the real quality of “Goodness?” If it is to be a quality of Dharma, it too must endure, it too must be eternal. It must be permanently good, and not change from day to day, year to year, millennium to millennium or even from culture to culture or from place to place. True “Goodness” must always have been Good, be Good now in present time, and always be Good in all times to come. What can possibly fit this highly exalted qualification? Evolutionary growth and change! Only a constant spiritual growth, a constant change towards higher levels of being, can fit this high concept of Eternal Goodness. It has always been, is, and always shall be “good” to change and grow towards higher states of being! Shiva, the Lord of Dance, as a true Cosmic Dancer is always changing his bodily position. He is the personification of “evolutionary

growth and change”. Thus, he is the embodiment of “Goodness.” And what is his vehicle? What allows him to move through time and space? None other than his Nandi, his faithful bull, who, in turn, is the embodiment of Dharma, or righeousness (Right-use-ness”.) Following Dharma enables the human to change, to grow spiritually, to evolve, and thus, to pursue the “GOOD LIFE”. This is the essence of the deep symbolism of Lord Shiva and Nandi. And the four legs of Nandi, the four aspects of Dharma, are: Austerity, Purity, Compassion and Truth in their most rarified, subtle essence. Understanding these things help us to lift veil after veil shrouding the Cosmic Law, and enables us to consciously live within that Law and harmonize ourselves with that Law. The more we follow Dharma the more inner peace we will feel, the less conflict we will experience, and a deep satisfaction will penetrate our bones. A stability of mind and character will develop which produces a joy and happiness which

needs no external crutches to hobble about upon. It can stand alone, for it is firmly anchored to the immovable rock of Dharma.

Lord Krishna declares in the BHAGAVED GITA, “Whenever there is a decline in Dharma (Righteous order) and a rise in Adharma (unrighteousness) I manifest Myself, controlling my Yogamaya (the power of Cosmic Illusion). This I do for the protection of the Sadhus (truth seekers) and for the destruction of the Duskritas (doers of evil, Cosmic law breakers). For the establishment of Dharma, I incarnate from time to time.”

The purpose of an Avatara (an incarnation of the Divine Spirit) is to restore righteous order in the society. In the great Hindu Epic the SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM there are twenty-five avatars of Lord Vishnu. Normally, in Hinduism only ten Avataras are given prominence. This concept is called the “Das Avatara.” Nine Avataras have already conducted their play upon our human stage: Matsya (Fish); Kourma (Tortoise); Varaha (boar); Narasimha (man-lion); Vamana, the dwarf; Parasurama (Rama with an axe); Rama (He Who Delights); Balarama (Rama with Might and Power); Krishna (He Who Attracts). The tenth Avatara Kalki (He Who Destroys) has not yet appeared. The purpose of each of these incarnations or Avataras, was to restore the Law of Dharma, which was being destroyed by Duskritas (the doers of Evil or unrighteous

men).

There is another interesting aspect to the concept of Avataras. This is called “Amsa Avatara” or a partial incarnation of the Divine Spirit. This implies that the Divine Cosmic Spirit may incarnate in many different beings, but only partially. It also implies that each and every one of us becomes an “Amsa Avatar” when we successfully implement the Law of Dharma in our lives. The purpose of the Avatara is to restore order in society, which has fallen into disorder because of the lack of Dharmic living. Hence whenever we restore order, either in our own body-mind, emotions-spirit complex, in our family unit, our community, our Nation, or the world we are acting as an “Amsa Avatara”, or a “partial incarnation of God” Internally whenever we experience noble, altruistic, beautiful mystical, elevated

thoughts and insights, it is the Divine manifesting in us. Whenever we are able to express those same deep insights by our acts, our life, our words, or even just by our service and benevolent presence, we are upholding Dharma, the universal principle or Divine order.

The Mahabhartha like all our Hindu Scriptures is a brilliant practical “study sheet” to guide us in the understanding of Dharma and its role in human life. It is said that everything that has ever happened in the world and everything that will ever could happen is contained within these stories! It is true. Every situation faced by the heroes and villians of this epic are faced by us as well in our daily life, perhaps not on so grand and spectacular scale, but the challenges and the structure of the situations are basically the same. The situation is merely magnified, so we can see its intricades much more clearly. It is literally, the eternal battle between light and darkness, good and evil, Dharma and Adharma.

Yet the great Rishi Vedvyasa was a sad and disappointed man after he completed his masterpiece the MAHABHARATHA. His closing words were: “O! Foolish men! I stand here shouting, with my arms uplifted! And yet, no one listens to me! Do your Dharma!, Then Artha (Wealth) and Kama (Desire and its fulfillment) will come automatically to thee!”

Yes, If one does one’s Dharma, then one will legitimately obtain all the wealth he needs and his desires will be automatically fulfilled. But even today, five thousand years later, few men have learned this lesson and few have heeded the great Rishis words: “Do your Dhrama, and all else will be given onto thee!” We can only shake our heads, and ask: “When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn!”

Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com

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