Dear All,
Today's post covers
devotee's question and Sri Ramana's answers to the questions on Swadharma and
Paradharma, which concludes and seals the subject beyond any possible doubt.
Let us go through the
questions by the devotee and Answers by Sri Ramana.
Devotee: In Srimad Bhagavad Gita
there is a passage - One’s own dharma is the best; an alien dharma is full of
risks. What is the significance of one’s own dharma?
Ramana Maharshi: It is usually interpreted to mean the duties of the
orders and of the different castes. The physical environment must also be taken
into consideration.
Devotee: If
varnasrama dharma be meant, such dharma prevails only in India. On the other
hand, the Gita should be universally applicable.
Ramana Maharshi: There is varnasrama in some form or other in every
land. The significance is that one should hold on to the single Atman and not
swerve therefrom. That is the whole gist of it. Sva = one’s own, i.e., of the
Self, of the Atman. Para = the other’s, i.e., of the non-self, of the Anatman.
Atmadharma is inherent in
the Self. There will be no distraction and no fear.
Troubles arise only when
there is a second to oneself. If the Atman be realized to be only unitary,
there is no second and therefore no cause for fear. The man, as he is now,
confounds the Anatma (non-Self) dharma with Atma (the Self) dharma and
suffers.
Let him know the Self and
abide in it; there is an end of fear, and there are no doubts. Even if
interpreted as varnasrama dharma, the significance is only this much.
Such dharma bears fruit only
when done selflessly. That is, one must realize that he is not the doer, but
that he is only a tool of some Higher Power. Let the Higher Power do what is
inevitable and let me act only according to its dictates. The actions are not
mine.
Therefore, the result of the
actions cannot be mine. If one thinks and acts so, where is the trouble? Be it
varnasrama dharma or loukika dharma (worldly activities), it is immaterial.
Finally, it amounts to this:
Sva = Atmanah (of the Self)
Para = Anaatmanah (of the non-self)
Such doubts are natural. The
orthodox interpretation cannot be reconciled with the life of a modern man
obliged to work for his livelihood in different capacities.
Devotee: Sarva
Dharmaan Parityajya Maamekam Saranam Vraja (leaving all duties surrender to me
only).
Ramana Maharshi: (All) Sarva is only Anaatmanah (of the non-self); the
emphasis is on ekam (only). To the man who has strong hold of the eka (one)
where are the dharmas? It means, “Be sunk in the Self.”
Devotee: The
Gita was taught for action.
Ramana Maharshi: What does the Gita say? Arjuna refused to fight.
Krishna said, “So long as you refuse to fight, you have the sense of doership.
Who are you to refrain or to act? Give up the notion of doership. Until that
sense disappears you are bound to act. You are being manipulated by a Higher
Power. You are admitting it by your own refusal to submit to it.
Instead recognise the Power
and submit as a tool. (Or to put it differently), if you refuse you will be
forcibly drawn into it. Instead of being an unwilling worker, be a willing one.
“Rather, be fixed in the Self and act according to nature without the thought
of doership. Then the results of action will not affect you. That is
manliness and heroism.”
Thus, ‘inherence in the
Self’ is the sum and substance of Gita teaching. Finally, the Master Himself
added, “If a man be established in the Self these doubts would not arise. They
arise only until he is established there.”
Love.
