The index of effectiveness in life is the ability to evaluate all the available options and then act on the one which is right and is as per laws of Karma (Causation). Right action should be the one which is able to get us success and should not violate Dharma (path of divinity).
Do we really have thumb rules to know which action shall violate Dharma and which action shall not? The answer to this question is YES and NO. It is so because shastra divides Dharma in two parts:-
“Samanya Dharma” and “Vishesh Dharma” – we may be able to define certain thumb rules to follow Samanya Dharma – Dharma under ordinary conditions. But things are entirely different in case of Vishesh Dharma – where Dharma is role specific and at times it becomes very difficult for a person to choose one among the available alternatives which justifies and fulfills duties of his role to maximum. Let us understand how:-
Samanya Dharma
It defines the guidelines pertaining to actions and behaviors of human being under normal circumstances, which can be understood easily by following three shlokas (Sanskrit Scripture):-
आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां ना समाचरेत
Atmanah pratikulani paresham na samacharet
Don’t do what you do not want to be done unto you.
परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम
Paropkarah punaya papay parpeedhanam:
Helping and serving others incurs punya (good karma) and on the contrary hurting others incurs papa (sin- bad karma).
धर्म एव हतो हन्तिः धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः
Dharma eva hato hantih dharmo rakshati rakshitah
If one will protect Dharma, Dharma will protect in return, if one will destroy Dharma, Dharma will destroy in return.
The above sanskrit verses from Mahabharata demonstrates the fact that what we expect from others, should be reflected in our own behavior as well. As Dharma (laws of cosmos) is applicable to the entire cosmos and looks at every thing in totality, it expects us also to look at others in totality and not as the other person. The holistic approach to look and behave with the world will only save us from compromising Dharma.
Vishesh Dharma:-
It talks about individual roles depending on responsibilities. At every point of time life gives us different choices and based on our wisdom we need to opt for one among those choices fulfilling all our duties in a rightful manner. Shastra has classified and mapped different roles in the form of Varnashram Dharma, where on one hand society is segmented into different roles depending on their work/profession, and adding to that responsibilities are assigned to each individual on the basis of his age group. It not only helps in following the path of Dharma in a better way, but also gives clarity of role at any point of time.
It is very important to understand individual’s role to follow Vishesh Dharma. The decisions should be taken by opting for one of those available choices which is for the benefit of all and is not disturbing the harmony and coherence of the cosmos. Anything which is against Dharma disturbs the harmony of the Cosmos. We all should understand that to maintain this harmony our role and contribution is very important as an individual as we all are independant and unique personalities and have got a huge potential to change the society with our smallest of the acts.
Gems of religious knowledge should be quoted and spread like this. Wherever any perceived dichotomy prevails, the best available explanations are useful in dispelling confusion. Our scriptures are deep in meaning and voluminous in size. So, extracting relevant topics with references to direct the readers to the source for more extensive studies would help. Please keep up the great work.