నిజమైన ధర్మం అంటే ఏంటి?

శోకమనేది నివృత్తి కావాలంటే ఒకటి మానవ ప్రయత్నం, రెండు ఈశ్వరానుగ్రహం ఉండాలి.

ప్రయత్నం చేస్తే గానీ అనుగ్రహం ఉండదు. వాస్త వానికి ఆయన ఎక్కడో లేడు. మనలోనే ఉన్నాడు..

ధర్మం లేదా మతం అనేది ప్రత్యేకించి ఒక మత సిద్ధాంతానికి సంబంధించింది కాదు.

అలాంటప్పుడు నిజమైన ధర్మం ఏంటి? అంటే, ‘ధర్మస్తు సాక్షాత్ భగవత్ ప్రణీతం’

భగవంతుడు దేనినైతే నిర్దేశించాడో అదే నిజమైన ధర్మం. రాజ్యాంగానికి సంబంధించిన చట్టం

ప్రభుత్వంతో ఎలా విధించబడి ఉంటుందో అదే విధంగా దేవదేవుని చేత విధించబడేది

అసలైన ధర్మం. భగవంతుడు ఒక్కడే అయినప్పుడు ఆయన ఆదేశం కూడా ఒక్కటే అయి

ఉండాలి. మరి ఇన్ని రకాల ధర్మాలు ఎలా ఉంటాయి? అది సాధ్యం కాదు. ధర్మం పేరిట

భిన్నమైన అభిప్రా యానికి రావడం అఙ్ఞా నం వలన మాత్రమే జరుగుతుంది. హిందూ ధర్మం,

ముస్లిం ధర్మం, క్రైస్త వ ధర్మం ... ఇలా ఎన్నో మతపరమైన ధర్మాలు ఉన్నాయి.
ఉదాహరణకు బంగారం అంటే బంగారమే.. అంతేగానీ క్రైస్త వుల వద్ద ఉన్నది క్రిస్టియన్ల

బంగారం, హిందువుల వద్ద ఉన్నది హిందువుల బంగారం అవుతుందా? లేదు సువర్ణం

ఎక్కడ ఉన్నా సువర్ణమే. అదే విధంగా భగవంతునికి దాసో హమవడమనేది పరిపూర్ణమైన

ధర్మం.

సర్వ ధర్మాన్ పరిత్యజ్య మామేకం శరణం వ్రజ ! , అహం త్వా సర్వ పాపేభ్యోమోక్ష

యిష్యామి మా శుచ! అంటే ఇంద్రియాలు, మనస్సు, బుద్ధి నీవుకాదు, నిరంతరం నువ్వు

నువ్వుగానే ఉండు. సర్వ పాపాల నుంచి మోక్షం పొందుతావు. పనికిరాని కోర్కెలతో, తెలివి

తక్కువ తనంతో అప్రా మాణికమైన కర్మలు ఆచరిస్తు న్న వారు క్రూ రత్వం, అసుర స్వభావం

పెంచుకుంటూ, మందబుద్ధు లై మాయలో పడిపో తుంటారు... ధర్మాన్ పరిత్యజ్య అంటే సర్వ

ధర్మాలను పరిత్యజించి తననే శరణు పొందమని కృష్ణు డు ఆనాడే చెప్పాడు. ఇదే భాగవత

ధర్మం.. భగవంతుని ఎలా ఆశ్రయ పొందాలో ప్రతి ఒక్కరికీ నేర్పించాలి.

భగవంతుడు ఒక్కడే, ఇద్దరు ముగ్గు రు దేవుళ్లు , వారి మధ్య పో టీ ఉందంటే వారు అసలు

దేవుళ్లే కాదు. ప్రతి చోట ఎవరో ఒక దేవుడు ఉండడం ప్రస్తు తం కాలంలో పరిపాటిగా

మారిపో యింది. గీతలో భగవానుడు వివరించింది ఇలాంటి దేవుడి గురించి కాదు. అతడు

దేవాదిదేవుడు. ‘అన్యథా శరణం నాస్తి ’ అని అందరూ ఆశ్రయించాల్సింది అతడినే. అదే పరి

పూర్ణమైన ధర్మం.

మనలో అహంకారం నశించినప్పుడు భగవంతుడు మనవాడు అవుతాడు. నేను, నాది, నా

అనే అర్థా లకు వాడు, వాడిది, వాడే అనే భావాన్ని జొప్పించాలి. భగవంతుడు తప్ప అన్యం

ఏదీ లేదు అనే సత్యానికి మనం దగ్గర కావాలి. ‘సత్య నిష్ఠ యే ఈ కలియుగానికి

తరుణోపాయం’ అని శ్రీరామకృష్ణు లు తెలిపారు.

 భగవద్గీ త 3-35
“ శ్రేయాన్స్వధర్మో విగుణః పరధర్మాత్స్వనుష్ఠి తాత్ |
స్వధర్మే నిధనం శ్రేయః పరధర్మో భయావహః || ”

పదచ్ఛేదం

శ్రేయాన్ – స్వధర్మః – విగుణః – పరధర్మాత్ – స్వనుష్ఠి తాత్ – స్వధర్మే – నిధనం – శ్రేయః

– పరధర్మః – భయావహః
ప్రతిపదార్థం

స్వనుష్ఠి తాత్ = చక్కగా ఆచరింపబడిన ; పరధర్మాత్ = ఇతరుల ధర్మం కన్నా ; విగుణః =

గుణరహితమైనప్పటికీ ; స్వధర్మః = స్వీయ ధర్మం ; శ్రేయాన్ = అత్యుత్త మమైనది ;
స్వధర్మే = తన ధర్మంలో ; నిధనం = చనిపో వడం ; శ్రేయః = ఉత్త మమైనది ; పరధర్మః =
ఇతరుల ధర్మం ; భయావహః = భయంకరమైనది.
తాత్పర్యం

“ చక్కగా ఆచరించబడిన పరధర్మం కన్నా, గుణరహితమైనప్పటికీ స్వధర్మమే

అత్యుత్త మమైనది ; స్వధర్మాచరణంలో మరణం సంభవించినప్పటికీ అది శ్రేయస్కరమే ;
కానీ, పరధర్మం మాత్రం భయంకరమైనది. ”
వివరణ

“ స్వధర్మం ” అంటే “ ఎవరు ఏ ఆత్మ పరిణామ దశల్లో వున్నారో ఆ ఆత్మస్థా యికి తగ్గ
ధర్మం అన్నమాట ” …
“ పరధర్మం ” అంటే “ ఇతరులు ఏ ఆత్మ పరిణితి స్థా యిలో ఉన్నారో వారి వారి
ఆత్మ పరిణితి స్థా యిలకు తగ్గ ధర్మాలు ” అన్నమాట …
మనలో సహజసిద్ధంగా ఉన్న అభిరుచి, వాసనలను అనుసరించి
ఒకానొక సహజ ప్రవృత్తి ఏర్పడుతుంది … అదే “ స్వధర్మం ” అవుతుంది.
ఇతరులకు నిర్దేశించబడినవి,
మరి మనకు నిర్దేశించబడనిది అయినదే “ పరధర్మం. ”
మన స్వధర్మానికి విరుద్ధంగా నడుచుకోవడం …
ఇతరుల స్వధర్మాన్ని ఆచరించడం … “ పరధర్మపాలన ” అవుతుంది.
“ పులిని చూసి నక్క వాత పెట్టు కోవడం ” సబబు కాదు …
పులి జీవితంలా ‘నక్క జీవితం’ ఉంటే నక్క నష్టపో తుంది …
‘ నక్క దశ ’లో వున్నప్పుడు నక్కలానే జీవించాలి …
స్వధర్మానికి వ్యతిరేకంగా ‘ ఓ నక్క ’ జీవించడానికి యత్నిస్తే ఎన్నో నక్క
జన్మలు తప్పవు !
స్వధర్మానికి అనుగుణంగానే ఓ నక్క జీవిస్తే
‘ ఒక్క నక్క జన్మ ’తోనే సరిపో తుంది !
ఎవరికి వారికి వారి వారి స్వధర్మమే శ్రేయస్కరమైనది.
పరధర్మాన్ని ఆచరించడానికి ప్రయత్నిస్తే
పులిని చూసి నక్క వాత పెట్టు కున్నట్టే అవుతుంది.
ఒక యజమాని ఇంట్లో దొంగ ప్రవేశించడం చూసినా,
కుక్క ఊరుకోవడంతో … గాడిద …
కుక్క పని తాను చెయ్యబో యి … ఓండ్రపెట్టి …
యజమానితో చావుదెబ్బలు తిన్నది.
మన స్థా యి ఎదిగినప్పుడు ఆ పరధర్మమే మన స్వధర్మం కాగలదు.
కానీ, ముందే దానికోసం ప్రా కులాడడం …
“ రెక్కలు రాకుండానే ఎగరడానికి ప్రయత్నించడం ” వంటిది …
క్రిందపడి కష్టా లు కొని తెచ్చుకుంటాం.
“ గురువు చేసినట్లు ” చెయ్యొద్దు …
“ గురువు చెప్పినట్లు ” చెయ్యాలి !
విషయాన్ని తెలుసుకోవడం జ్ఞా నం …
దానిని సరిగ్గా ఆచరించడం ధర్మం.
జ్ఞా నం ఉంటేనే ధర్మం తెలుస్తుంది.
ధర్మం తెలిస్తే నే అనుష్ఠా నం సరిగ్గా చేస్తాం.
ధర్మమే శాశ్వతం … ఎట్టి పరిస్థితుల్లో నూ ధర్మాన్ని వదలకూడదు.
ఎవరి ధర్మాన్ని వాళ్ళు … అది విశిష్టగుణ రహితం అయినప్పటికీ …
“ అల్పగుణి ” అయినప్పటికీ … దానినే అనుసరించాలి …
“ జయ విజయులు ” తమ అల్పగుణాన్ని భయరహితులై, సంకోచరహితులై
ఆశ్రయించి మూడు జన్మలలోనే కడతేరినట్లు పురాణగాథ వున్నది కదా !
వుండవలసింది మరి భయరహితం …
సంకోచరహితం …
సదా, సర్వత్రా స్వధర్మాశ్రయమే శరణ్యం !
స్వధర్మపాలనలో మరణం సంభవించినా మేలే !
స్వధర్మపాలనలో మరణం సంభవించినా మేలే !

Questions & Answers

Gurudev what is Swadharma, and how do I know what is my Swadharma?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Swadharma is that action which is in accordance with your nature. It is acting
in accordance with your skills and talents, your own nature (svabhava), and that which you are
responsible for (karma) .
Any action that does not make you feel afraid or restless is Swadharma. That action which you feel
compelled to do, without which you feel restless is swadharma. Now do not misunderstand this and
say, ‘I feel restless if I do not drink alcohol’. No! Not at all.
Every time you feel restless, it not always because of Swadharma. But at the same time not following
your swadharma always makes you feel restless.
That is why it is said in the Bhagavad Gita, ‘Swadharme nidhanam shreyah paradharmo
bhayaavahah’ (3.35).
When we do something without authenticity, just to show off to another person, that is when we feel
fear because such action is not genuine, it does not come from the heart. But when we do something
that is authentic and from the heart, then there is no fear.
When someone speaks lies, they definitely feel scared somewhere inside. But someone who speaks
the truth does not feel scared at all. In fact speaking the truth and abiding by it brings so much
strength to you, isn’t it? This is what Swadharma is.
When we follow that which comes naturally to us in our life, then it brings abundance and prosperity
to us. When we flow in accordance with our nature, we grow from within. Any action that uplifts us is
our Swadharma.
Dharma is that which holds the mind, intellect, memory and our inner soul together in harmony.
Growth comes when we follow our swadharma.

Gurudev, in the Gita you have said that God is everywhere, but how can one experience this
practically in everyday life?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: See, these are two aspects to knowledge. One is Bodha – the knowledge itself,
and the other is Vyavahara – meaning following the knowledge and experiencing it practically.
You know that in your house, the doors, tables and chairs are all made of wood. But you cannot use a
table for a chair, nor can you use the chair in the place of a door, isn’t it? Although the cot, the door
and table are all made of the same substance (wood), still you cannot use one in place of the other,
because practically they are each different from the other and have their own uses.
In the same way, there is one God present in both the young and the elderly. But if you say that they
are all one (by the same God) and start touching the feet of young children and blessing the old
people, then they will think you have gone crazy. They will think there is something wrong with you.
So the way you behave has to differ from person to person. You cannot behave in the same way
with everybody. But you should have a feeling of Sambhaava – meaning to see the one Divinity
within everyone and everything around you.

When you understand this knowledge of,Advaita (Indian school of philosophy that
stresses on non-duality) and keep it in your heart, then you become more firmly
established in the Self. Only then will you come to this conclusion that though
there is the same soul (Consciousness) within everyone and everything, yet you
have to treat everything as per its own nature (meaning to discriminate wisely yet
see the underlying oneness of everything around oneself).
Gurudev, no matter what I do to please my husband he is never happy. He keeps finding faults in me.
What should I do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: If you know that this is his habit then why are you getting so disturbed? Accept
him and move on. Keep yourself happy. If you do not get disturbed by his behaviour then he will start
to change.
Every person has some or the other negative quality in them. And these negative qualities are also
there to push your buttons, so that you become strong. Once you become strong, then they will start to
change.
In life, everything changes, and there are some things that do not change. We need to accept both
these situations.

Gurudev, cow slaughter is on the rise in India. Can any stringent laws be passed in Parliament by
which this can be banned?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: It is unfortunate that the percentage of cows present in India today is just 20%
of their number before independence. The animal wealth of our country has reduced to a great extent,
and is much lesser today than what it used to be.
We are facing a big shortage of milk in many places in the country. You must have heard that the
sweets sold in some of the markets in North India are not safe for consumption at all. They mix urea
and some other chemicals to manufacture the sweets. There is so much adulteration happening in such
places. People add chemicals to make Khoya (a natural additive obtained from milk that lends
thickness and solidity to sweets) which they then use to make mithai (Indian sweets). So many people
have died because of this, and still many people are suffering. People resort to adulteration only when
there is a shortage of basic materials. If there is no shortage, there would be no adulteration. Then it
would be more expensive to practice adulteration (using expensive chemicals and artificial
substances).
We have to make efforts to increase the animal wealth of our country, and also strive to increase the
numbers of cows in our animal population.

Recently I came across a research in which they have identified the difference
between the milk from Indian cows and the milk from cows imported from Europe.
The protein that is found in the milk of imported cows is called A1 protein. A1
protein causes high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, etc. A lot of diseases
happen because of A1 protein. On the other hand, there is another kind of protein
also, called the A2 protein.
The A2 protein is found in mother’s milk, and it is also found in the (Indian) cow’s
milk and goat milk. So a mother’s milk, goat’s milk and Indian cow’s milk are the
same (in composition). Do you know how? In India, for many years the cow has
been respected and revered as a mother. So this consciousness or thought in our
tradition has changed the DNA of the cow to generate A2 protein rather than the
A1 protein. The milk from the Indian cows is so potent and useful that it is also
used as a medicine for the treatment of cancer.
So cow slaughter should be stopped at any cost. A strict law should be passed
against this, but more importantly, people also should be made more and more
aware of these facts.
Gurudev, yesterday you said that the divine takes care of everyone, then why is there poverty, why
there are floods?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Imagine a situation when there are no problems in the
world.
You go to see a movie and in that movie there are no problems and no tension. A man gets up, eats,
goes to work, comes home and goes to sleep, and does the same thing every day. Will you go and
watch such a movie? Will you enjoy such a movie?
When do you enjoy a movie? When there is a villain in it, or some tension, or some problems in it.
Then you come out and say, ‘This is a very good movie’.
In the same way, this world is like a movie for God. Anyway nobody dies from floods. They all come
back in another body.

We also need something to do. Just imagine if there are no problems in the world,
everybody is healthy and happy, then there will be no room for compassion. Who
will you have compassion towards? Compassion and all other values will
disappear.
So problems are here in this world so that we realize our purpose in this world.
How do I get over my crushes? It is very easy for me to like someone and that troubles me?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: I think you have a lot of free time. You have to get busy. This is too young an
age to get crushed. You have not even blossomed like a flower yet, you are still a bud. Don’t let
anybody crush you now. There is a time for it. Now focus only on your studies. Charm everybody but
don’t stay, move, that is the formula.

Gurudev I once read in a book called, Autobiography of a Yogi that in the Himalayas there are Yogis
who travel from one place to another using some special technique. Is this true? If yes, can we
experience it?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: No, there is nothing like this. You go to the Himalayas and search all over but
you will not find any such thing.

Can we ask you some rapid fire questions?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Yes, go ahead.

Who are you?

Good Question to ask yourself.
Who were you in your past life?
That is a secret, I will tell you some other time.
What is and who is God?
What and who is not God.
How should we feel god?
Just be quiet. Don’t worry about him, let him worry about you.
How can the world be violence free and stress free?
By spreading The Art of Living.
What is future of Earth?
Bright with people like you.
What is religion?
Religion is that which puts you in the right track.
What is Truth?
That which cannot be defined and which cannot be avoided.
What is positive and what is negative?
Positive is what elevates you, and negative is what puts you down.
Who is Guru?
One who answers this question.
What is mind?
That which is asking the question.
When you feel tension during studies, just relax. And all students must eat carrots.
Especially those who are wearing spectacles, you need vitamin A and that comes
with carrots. So start eating more carrots.
Proper food is very essential. If you eat properly you will not fall sick. We fall sick
because we don’t eat well. Most of the time we want to eat food that is tasty, and
not that food which is good for the body. We should eat food that is good for the
body.
Two to three times a week, take one or two Neem tablets. It is very good for the
stomach and the nervous system. Do you know, in Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram
they would keep Neem Chutni every day, because it is good for the mind, the body
and the stomach. It also improves the immune system of the body.
Triphala is also good very for the body. All the imbalances in the body get cured
with Triphala.
So we must take some of these Ayurvedic medicines, they are good for the body.
And we must also do some chanting.
Today, I read in an article that Om is not just a mantra, it is a medicine as well. So
we must chant Om every day; at least three times.
Chant Om Namo Narayana or Om Namah Shivaya every day. These are
called Maha Mantras. We must chant mantras every day.
So eat good food, use medicine, chant mantras and keep on smiling.
Problems are there in everybody’s life. They come and go. No problem stays
forever. So have this faith that I will get whatever I need and keep moving forward.

Sadhguru explains that Swadharma is the way of self, a means to

experience life beyond physical limitations. If we go by the laws of
the physical, it will always be governed by boundaries. If we want to
experience the boundless nature of the non-physical, we need to
turn inward and follow the way of Swadharma.
Full Transcript:

So he said swadharma – swa means self, dharma means law – so

the law of yourself, people thought it's Hindu dharma. Krishna did
not know any Hindu dharma; I want you to know this. Yes? Yes or
no? Krishna does not know any Hindu dharma; he is talking about
the law of the self. What is the nature of the self, how does it
operate, what is it that you have to do with it? As there is law of the
physical there is law of the self. He is saying ‘you must live by the
laws of the self, not by the physical laws.’ If you live by the physical
laws this will happen – today we are friends, tomorrow something
comes we’ll be fighting. Yes or no? Yes? You are sitting there, I am
sitting here, we are nice. If you try to sit here there’ll be a fight. Yes
or no? isn’t this happening even in the closest of relationships on
the planet, not just between two nations, not between communities,
not between societies, is it between…happening between husband
and wife, father and child, mother and child – is it not happening?
Yes or no? Because this is the physical law that you sit there, I sit
here; once in a way I come there, will do this. (Gestures) If we feel
like it we will hug but if I sit on your head or if I sit…you sit on my
head, it's not going to work. Yes or no?

Now repeatedly one fly will come and sit here. Initially…initially it
just sat here. (Gestures) after some time it started biting. Then
chukk. (Gestures) Yes or no? You may not get it that’s different
(Laughs) but you want to get it, isn't it? So this is the nature of the
physical. So Krishna is saying ‘if you go by the physical laws –
Arjuna is lamenting ‘how can I kill my brother, how can I kill my
grandfather, how can I kill my Guru in this battle’ because they are
on the other side. So Krishna is saying ‘see if you go by the
physical laws you have to kill. They stayed away, you stayed away
no problem. Now we crossed our paths, no…no chance of escaping
this. Today or tomorrow you will have to kill. So the moment has
come to kill. You can't stop it; this is not your choice or their choice,
this is the way of the physical.’

Physical happens with boundaries. If transgression of boundaries

happen… (Gestures) Yes or no? For everybody…for everybody in
this world you have a boundary. Yes? Your enemy means the
boundary is there (Gestures) if he crosses that there’ll be trouble.
Your neighbor means boundary is there, if he crosses that there’ll
be trouble. Your friend means the boundary is here, if he crosses
that there’ll be trouble. Your spouse means the boundary is here
but if he crosses that there’ll be trouble. Your child means the
boundary is here but if he crosses that there’ll be trouble. Yes or
no? What home minister what do you say? What? The home
minister, you forgot?. (Laughs)

So for everybody there is a boundary. Isn't it so? However dear to

you they are isn’t there a boundary? Is there a boundary or no?
There is a boundary, isn't it? Only if we maintain the boundary, see
there is low line (Laughs), if you maintain the boundary things work
in the physical world. If you cross the boundary any transgression
happens with the boundary, beginning of violence is started, isn't it?
First step towards violence has begun; initially it’ll happen in words,
then little pushing and then chopping. Don’t think ‘no, no I won't do
it.’ You will also do it. This is the way of the physical.
So Krishna is saying ‘If you don’t want this, if you’re struggling with
this chopping business, you follow your swadharma, the way of the
self where there are no boundaries.’ You can sit here and be
anywhere; you can sit here and be nowhere. Nobody is a
transgression in this. When you sit here and there is no trans…you
cannot transgress anybody and nobody can transgress you; if you
experience this then I don’t have to tell you fight the war. But you
live by the physical laws and you try to avoid the fight it is not going
to help. Anyway you have to fight. So how to follow this? You have
to turn inward. If you live by the way of the physical collision is just
one step away. Isn't it so? Yes or no? Colliding with something is
just a step away always. You got to dodge it, all the time dodging,
isn't it? If you don’t dodge you’ll go like this (Gestures) with
somebody invariably. So that’s swadharma.