Dharma

Meaning

religion
The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

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Interpretation

“Dharma loka”Virtuous conduct, Law of everything, Righteousness” (the plane of the “eternal law of creation, of cosmos”) is the plane of the “eternal law of creation, of cosmic law. It is the cell where the player answers the question “what is right?”. Dharma is constant, but it’s manifestations vary from situation to situation. Conscious action in accordance with cosmic knowledge is dharma. There is no higher dharma than doing good for others, there is no adharma worse than causing harm to another.

Dharma can be understood when related to conduct, yet it is far more than a code of conduct, of morality and ethics. Dharma is recognising the “whole” and acting for the benefit of the “whole” and therefore, simultaneously, in your own benefit, as you are part of the whole.

Dharma is realising that acting out of “personal interest” tends to “break you away from the whole”. The player then “hinders the good of the whole” and cause harm to herself.

In the context of the Mahābhārata, Yuddhishthir learns the secret of dharma, from Bhishma on his deathbed in the battlefield.

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Story

Bhishma, in Shanti Parva, explains to Yuddhishthir dāna dharma, rāja dharma, moksha dharma, stri dharma and the bhāgavata dharma.

Dāna dharma is the highest dharma of the householder (the grihasta), and he should be prepared to give to charity atleast fifty percent of his earnings. The world as a “property” can only belong to the Supreme Godhead, and the householder should not be attached to his “hard earned comforts”.

The king should not be lazy and sensous, he should be pious, religious, chivalrous, generous and forgiving by nature. He, like a father, should strive for the liberation of his subjects from birth, death, disease and old-age. He should also perform sacrifices for the prosperity and health of his subjects.

He should take guidance in administrative matters from qualified and experienced brahmins and rishis. The king must protect those who seek his protection, the weak and those who have renounced worldly attachments and seek the truth and liberation.

For moksha, one must conquer the six passions. Forgiveness leads to freedom from anger. Through yoga one must conquer desire, sleep and hunger. Through tolerance one must conquer avarice. One can be free of diseases through good habits and regulated diet. Awareness of the self within and adherence to one’s ordained duties will result in liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Women are more powerful than men and should always be an inspiration to men. Shyness is important for women. Maintaining a good lineage is their responsibility.

Service to the Lord is an essential part of our nature, and we must not forget this. The householder should install a deity at home and offer regular prayers and chant the holy name of the Lord. By pursuing the regular chores of life, with the mind fixed in the service of the Lord, one attains liberation. This is the path of bhakti, for the householder.

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On the game board

Looking at the game board, the player finds the cell of “sudharma” six places ahead. The sensory plane lies immediately above, engaging her while she is stationed in dharma.

The brahmacharya āshram below has already trained her in self-control and she realises that action is the only way out from idleness of the mind. This first half of grihasta āshram, is truly the “swarga loka” of her life, and also the next cell on the game board.

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