424--Q&A WITH SWAMIJI-- Individual and Collective Dharma

[Guest guest]

Question from Leela:As I was chanting the Ganesha Atharvasirsham, a

question came up in my mind regarding national karma.

while i notice that practice and understanding in spiritual life leads

to a natural dissolution of identification with things, people and

places--i still came to wonder as i chanted, what is the karmic

impact of the neglect and mismanagement of the suffering people on us

as a nation? what can we do to alleviate the rage and pain that must

be in the collective now as a result of the people in new orleans

being victimized anew by the governmental neglect of them?

i see the hurricane itself as national karma, but i am sad to think we

have accumulated more by not attending to those people swiftly and

carefully.

could you please offer some clarity on the concept of national karma?

Swamiji's response:There is both a both yuga dharma and a vyakti

dharma, an ideal of perfection for the society of that time and place

and circumstance, as well as an ideal for the individual. Even though

we may be following our personal dharma, we will be affected by the

dharma of our society. That is why we strive for people's

enlightenment as well as our own.