The Cosmic Law which brings Peace and Harmony to our Society
As I started my journey to understand the world around me, I was intrigued by the concept of Dharma. It is often used in Indian society and extensively in therapy albeit in many New-Age jargon.
One of the talks by Niloofer Giri, a Vedanta Exponent and a Renaissance thinker brought a lot of light to it. This post is inspired from that talk.
The first syllable of ‘Dharma’ comes from ‘Dhr’, a Sanskrit root word meaning ‘to hold’ or ‘to support’. Our world is full of rules and laws. There are laws like the gravitational law or the laws of planets and galaxies. Nature on earth also follows strict rules. This is how the Cosmos is supported.
In our world, animals and humans too have laws which cannot be violated. Only in humans, we also have a choice – a free will. With this choice also comes a responsibility.
‘Dharma’ (righteousness or moral values) stands right on top of the four goals of human life, the other three being ‘Artha’ (prosperity or economic values), ‘Kama’ (pleasure and love or psychological values) and ‘Moksha’ (liberation or spiritual values); the key concepts in Hinduism, referring to the four proper goals or aims of a human life (also called Purushartha)
We, as humans don’t like to be cheated, taken for granted or hurt. Therefore, any other human would also not want that. Dharma in a very broad manner means ‘Don’t do to another, what you don’t want to be done unto you’. It is a sensitivity that humans have of knowing what will hurt or what will help. We are born with it. But sometimes we disconnect with it due to paucity of time or to find an easier way and we start to cut corners.
For example, we do not expect the chemist making our medicine to cut corners or the doctor treating us. We would expect similar perfection from our car manufacturer, the airplane manufacturer, etc. We cannot take even a step in this world without people around us following their rule or their ‘Dharma’.
Now we need to look whether we follow our ‘Dharma’? What is our Dharma?
The Hindu scriptures give broad guidelines about different ‘Dharmas’ and one of them is called ‘Varna Dharma’ – the rules to live by in any society.
Brahmin – the Thinking People: Scientists, researchers, the think tanks, intellectuals, technologists, those who create laws, ideas, the creators. They are often the King makers. Study, teach and help people.
Kshatriya – the Rulers: Leaders, in politics, defence services, business. Those who take charge, Heads of State, Military officers and Commanders, CEOs, who lead large number of people. They look after and protect them. They believe in honour and pride, who like grandeur and this category of people like to be served. They are the ‘Kings’ so to say. Help and protect others before protecting themselves
Vaishya – the Entrepreneurs: The business people. Those who have capital and resources. Industrialists who are willing to take risks. They may employ the thinkers. They have no limit to profit making but must share that earning.
Shudras – the Workers: They don’t have acumen for research, or the grandeur to lead or the capacity to take risks. They want a stable life and they offer their services in employment. They are the working class. Do your job well.
Each category has a ‘Code of Conduct’, certain laws, which is their ‘Dharma’ and these laws cannot be transcended. We need to find our category and live true to that. This is what will bring peace and harmony in our society. In today’s fast changing world, our roles are also evolving but the essence of our society remains the same as it has been ever since civilization started.
If we look closely, our society is based on these categories socially. We have the Manager, the blue collar worker and the labourers. We need to look at what values have changed and what has remained the same.
There are also ‘Dharmas’ for sub categories under these broad categories, for example a mother, a father, a student etc., each role has a rule and if we follow that role/rule, we are following the Dharma, upholding the Cosmic Law and bringing peace and harmony in our society.
We need to look at what is expected of us, what can we contribute in this world, play the role and follow the rule. Just by doing that we bring harmony to ourselves and our world.
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