Fulfilling DUTY (Dharma)

‘Dharma’ is a powerful Sanskrit word streamlining the way and philosophy of life. There is solely a book entitled ‘Dharma Vahini’ by our beloved Swami, Sathya Sai. Numerous discourses of Swami touch upon this transcendental term in a detailed manner. In this Kali age, the Vedic injunction, ‘Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara (utter truth pursue DUTY)’ has been decaying to ‘Satyam Vadha Dharmam Chera (kill truth imprison DUTY)’.

DUTY is the first of the four purusharthas (objectives) of life—Dharma, Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation). It’s also termed as the crowning virtue as it encompasses all the other four human values—promoter of TRUTH and LOVE resulting in peace and hence non-violence. It thus provides humanness to all actions. In this context, it’s worth recalling our Swami’s popular statement, “Duty with love is desirable, and duty without love is deplorable.” Another quotable quote is by the scientist Weiskoff, “Compassion without knowledge is ineffective, knowledge without compassion is inhuman.”

Since our beloved Swami emphasized, “First understanding, then adjustment,” let’s examine briefly the root words of Dharma (DUTY): “dharini and dhru”—as the vesture that binds the whole world. Dhr the root of Dharani also means that which binds, upholds, the universe in unison through DUTY. Dharma is a term that is all- embracing, and everything abides in it. ‘Dharma’ has thus no equivalent usage in English vocabulary and is generally referred to as code of conduct/ethics, duty, obligation, reason, regulation (secular and religious), responsibility, right-action/conduct, and righteousness.

The words, ‘duty’, ‘right- action/conduct’ and ‘dharma’, are generally used interchangeably either for translation or transliteration purpose. The resulting application—underplaying the spiritual aspect of TRUTH, DUTY, and LOVE—may be hindering the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) from arriving at the deserving Himalayan heights it should have been in comparison with other character education (Education in Human Values, EHV) curricula.

In this article, we first refer dharma as the italic word ‘DUTY’. The Italicism is to emphasize the Sanskrit origin of the word, dharma. We also bring out both the distinct differences between duty and DUTY and also the linkage of duty to DUTY or vice-versa. This notational distinction is analogous to Anthropology’s 101 (basic course) thin and thick meaning of some words and also to Social Linguistics big ‘D’ and little ‘d’ for the word ‘discourse’ distinguishing the ideological and contextual reference respectively.

While Lord Rama is acclaimed to be the embodiment of duty as a son, brother, husband, and king/emperor, the metaphysical concept of DUTY was addressed in Bhagavad Gita [scripture] by Lord Krishna. Our beloved Swami made it more practicable by explaining irrefutably in terms of the tenet ‘work is worship’, thereby sacrificing both the ego of doer-ship and the fruits of action. While referring to Gita, He said, “first word is Dharma and its last word is mama (mine). It teaches everyone who studies it “mama dharma”—”my dharma,” “my duty,” “my responsibility to myself.” This sequential description reminds us of our beloved Swami’s 3HV (unity of head, heart, and hands) concept. Duty and responsibility aspects are considered to be the body level (2HV—head and hands) duty (para-lokukia–vyavaharika dharma), the 3HV approach would lead to DUTY (Swa-atmic Dharma). The former is the right conduct in day-to-day life; the latter is based on the directives that emanate from soul, atma, or the consciousness.

While supreme DUTY is eternal, obligatory duty is transient – variable with time and location. Yet every creature is bound by its own duty, and what’s right for one may not be right for another. For a better understanding of the latter, let’s briefly recount the popular King Sibi’s story as told by Lord Rama. Sibi assured protection to a pigeon chased by an eagle. The eagle rhetorically questioned Sibi, “Hunting and killing the pigeon, my prey, is my duty. In the process of protecting those who seek refuge in the king, as your duty, you are interfering with my duty.” So, being righteous, Sibi offered an equivalent weight of his body’s flesh. Sibi has used his discrimination and propagated DUTY with such a sacrifice. Duty may vary from specie to specie and also from person to person depending on the profession and life’s role and also stage. Although humans may have a choice between DUTY and duty, the former is same for all.

Performing our obligation/work is the duty, and doing it with love and making it truly selfless is dharma (DUTY). We may thus conclude that terms ‘mere action, conduct, work’ as 1hv (hands) level; ‘duty, obligation, secular righteousness’ as 2HV/body level; spiritual righteousness (Swa-dharma) is at the heart level. These three aspects may also be termed as social, moral, and spiritual value levels. In order to better appreciate the distinct difference between the DUTY and duty concepts, following are a few examples: Constitution vs legislation, spirituality vs religion, educare vs education, SSEHV vs EHV, co-operation vs operation. Similarly being is my DUTY as per the norms of the role/situation I am in.In time of conflict between DUTY and duty, each human being has to evolve one’s own duty based on DUTY. As an example, let’s recall Lord Vishnu’s young devotee, Prince Prahlada’s story. Prahlada took refuge in Vishnu and refused to accept his father’s, Emperor Hiranyakashapu’s, command. He chose DUTY over duty as the former prevails.

While the above distinguishes the conceptual distinction between DUTY and duty, for our day-to-day guidance, let’s briefly include the practical pointers based on Swami’s discourses:

“What exactly is your duty?” First, tend your parents with love and reverence and gratitude. Second, speak the truth and act virtuously. Third, whenever you have a few moments to spare, repeat the name of the Lord, with the form in your mind. Fourth, never indulge in talking ill of others or try to discover faults in others. And, finally, do not cause pain to others, in any form.”¹

“What bodily activity should one undertake? One should question oneself, what, when, how, why, and with what consequences, and discriminate; then only should one let the body perform action. This is known as sharira dharma (bodily duty)…. What is the dharma of the heart? It is Constant-Integrated-Awareness. The bodily and mental dharmas are physical and external (pravrittis), opposed to nivritti (internal enquiry and activity). The mind is there to exercise discrimination between the ephemeral and eternal, good and bad, and action should be undertaken only after such enquiry… This is the truth of the man’s individual dharma.” ²

DUTY: “Ideas, principles, laws, customs, codes, habits, actions—all are to be judged on the twin points of intention and consequence. Is the intention pure, is it born out of LOVE, is it based on TRUTH? Does it result in Peace? If yes, DUTY is enshrined in that action or law, custom or conduct…. It is that which sustains, saves, and sanctifies….”³ “Practicing what you preach, doing as you say it has to be done, keeping precept and practice in line, earn virtuously, yearn piously; live in the fear of God, live for reaching God—that is DUTY.”⁴

Upanishads exhort, “DUTY guards its guardian.” In the above-mentioned Prahlad’s story, he was miraculously protected from inhuman and life-threatening punishments by his father because Prahlad had chosen DUTY over duty to his father. Besides such scriptural evidences for this aphorism, the sea of Sai literature confirms that each one of us have also experienced Swami’s grace and guidance as we serve in His mission. His assurance, “Show Me your availability, I’ll give you the ability” correlates well with the punch line “Be right, righteousness will save you.” Correspondingly, God is DUTY/ TRUTH/LOVE and DUTY/ TRUTH/LOVE is God.

“For understanding anything subjective, experience is essential” and “in spirituality experience is the method of gaining wisdom, while in science it is experiment.” Let me list a few events that happened in our family: Timely and miraculous entry and exit of IBM career, opportunity of serving the Sathya Sai Organization and the local community, our two daughters’ careers, marriages, and good health. In 2014, our beloved Swami corrected me for my repeated response to friends about how am I spending my retirement time? ‘kshanam therika ledu, kaani adaayam ledu [Telegu] (not even a moment of free time, not even a cent of income)’. Obviously I forgot His dictum, “In any business in which you engage yourself, treat it also as God’s work.” In an inspiring book called Man Management, it’s described that when you work for God’s company as opposed to a corporation, there is no worry of limitation such as promotion, pension, and the related stresses.

From our Sai alphabets, 4F’s (Follow the master; Face the devil; Fight till the end; and Finish the game) and 4S’s (Self-confidence; Self-satisfaction; Self-sacrifice, and Self-realization), the path of DUTY has an origin and an end. In the case of 4F’s, the master is the DUTY or conscience that should be followed in and out. The devil is the challenge, obstacles, and conflicts in the path of fulfilling DUTY as opposed to mere duty, fight till the end with patience and perseverance to practice DUTY. This is achievable as long as we assert and manifest our Self through the 4S’s.

We, human beings, are unique in assessing and manifesting Self with confidence, inner contentment, and offering. The role of duty to DUTY correlates well with the concepts of self (illusory consciousness—i), Self (consciousness—I), and the pilgrimage from i to I. The individual’s journey is on a dual-lane highway—outer and internal enquiry and activity, in other words, duty and DUTY. Human being alone has the choice and ability to fulfill DUTY and realize Self. Self-assertion and manifestation is the life’s fulfillment. As one foot walks, the other rests; internal and external enquiry and activity, too, have to be in balance always.

~Girija & Murthy Cheruvu

1. 31-3-1965, SSS 5:24, ‘Be above and beyond’
2. 26 October 2001,  ‘Yajna –Aid to self- transformation’
3. 5-10-1962, SSS 2:44, ‘What is dharma, what is not?’
4. 30-3-1965, SSS 5:23, ‘Rope round the neck’