What is dharma? Dharma means that which holds the individual, family, society, country, the whole world, together. Where there is dharma, there can be no conflict. For dharma enables a way of life that ensures peace and harmony, truth and justice. When the path of dharma is abandoned, you find yourself following adharma, which is just the opposite.

Dharma has various aspects to it. One is brahmacharya or celibacy. Second, satya, truth. When you speak untruth or are dishonest in your actions, it will hurt you, your family, society and country. Untruthfulness is adharma that could disturb the whole world. Misguiding people, getting involved in scams and cheating are all acts of adharma.

The third limb of dharma is tapasya or penance, when you withdraw your senses from all objects of sensual pleasure. While performing penance, do you inflict injury on anybody in this world? We commit all kinds of sins for sense gratification. Tapasya helps you to stay in control.

The fourth characteristic of dharma is charity. Whatever you earn, if you use only for yourself and do not give to anyone else including family members, this is adharma. Without parents would one survive in this world? Everyone is indebted to them. They have a right over your income. If one does not give them any money, then it is adharma.

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Every adharma has a reaction. One takes the help of other human beings and the natural world. They give us so much. We must pay them back. If we don’t return their goodness, then it is adharma. One must give charity or contribute in some way. Dharma cannot bring violence; it ushers in only peace. Sinful acts and reactions are due to adharma.

The fifth constituent of dharma is niyam, which means following a regulated life. If you do not observe regulation of body, you might become vulnerable to disease. Regulation of mind, institutions and society is essential. Discipline is necessary. This is dharma.  One follows rules for enhancement of body, mind and intellect, following the examples and teachings of experienced guides.

The sixth aspect of dharma is forgiveness, so necessary to live harmoniously in a family, society or country. Anybody can make mistakes knowingly or unknowingly. You need to forgive people to maintain harmony in society and build bridges of friendship and love.

The seventh feature of dharma is non-violence. If you inflict injury on another, there is bound to be a reaction. For every action there is a reaction. Do not use any force, for there will be a reaction. Violence of any kind ignites more violence.

The eighth aspect of dharma is tranquillity of mind.  If the mind is disturbed, you cannot take a proper decision. All good decisions are taken with a calm mind. When we are obsessed with worldly matters, we are more likely to be angry and disturbed, always.

Whenever we get angry and disturbed, we are likely to disturb and harm others in return. But whenever we meditate on the most tranquil entity, the Supreme Being, our mind becomes calm and serene, and then we can take the right decisions.

The ninth limb of dharma is austerity. All these aspects of dharma will in no way harm anyone. Indeed, following dharma will improve our quality of life.

There are different levels of dharma.

But the highest dharma is to love all.

To attain this is to be blessed with actual philosophical knowledge. But this peak will be scaled only by those who have actual realisation.

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj was President-Acharya of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math from 1979 till he left his physical body on April 21, 2017 at the age of 92. For more than six decades, he preached the philosophy of universal unity, travelling the globe to spread his message of transcendental divine love, interacting with theologians of all faiths.

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