Thursday, October 20, 2011
SvaDharama in the Bhagavad Gita
SvaDharama in the Bhagavad Gita
Dharma is, of course, translated as “duty,” but svadharam is not simply the duty to perform works in the world, but the necessity of performing one’sown special God-given duty. It is not not often ead=sy to know exactly what one’s svadharma is. Is it simply to work at that occupation which brings; the greatest material gain? No. Nor is it simply the serving of others. Rather,m it is the serving of God, the Self, who is the indwelling, guiding, joy of man. No matter what a man might do in this world, no matter how respectable or charitable or unselfish, if it is not his svadharma, he will be miserable; he will feel frustrated, unfulfilled and dissatisfied. This is especially true for the sincere aspirant to Truth, for he will fee most keenly the disharmony between his spirit and his actions.
It is by this a spiritual man knows his svadharma; if his soul is happy and delighted in its performance, and if the very thought of diverting from that path makes him sick at heart and despondent, he may be sure that it is his svadharma.
"It is not right to leave undone the holy work which ought to be done.
Such a surrender of action is a delusion of darkness.
And if a man abandons his svadharma out of fear of pain, truly, he has no reward."
The reward of performing the work appropriate to one’s own svadharma is the peace and joy of God. By renouncing all other concerns but the performance of the work God has ordained for you, you will feel and know His confirmation within you.
"A man attains perfection when his work is worship of God,
from whom all things come and who exists within everyone.
And a man should not abandon his work,
even if he cannot achieve perfection;
because in all work there is some imperfection,
as in fire there is some smoke.
…It is better to perish in your own work than to flourish in another’s.
Therefore, offer to Me all you works and rest your mind upon the Supreme.
Be free from vain hopes and selfish thoughts,
and with inner peace fight your fight."
-Swami Abhayananda, The History of Mysticism: The Unchanging Testament page 61
[HOW CAN THIS BE EXPRESSED WITHOUT RESORTING TO USE OF RELIGIOUS, THEISTIC TERMS SUCH AS GOD AND HIS???]
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