Dharma and Karma for today

 Why are they needed ?

 Cleanse me of past actions – dharmena papam apanudati.., yajnya
dana tapa: karma pavanani manishinam…
 Sustain this universe – dharmo rakshati rakshita:,
 Divine order – niyatam kuru karma…, achara prabhavo dharma:
dharmasya prabhurachyuta:, satyam vada dharmam chara.., dharma
samsthapanarthaya sambhavami…
 Repay my three debts – rishi, deva and pitru debts
Who is inclined ?
 Those who have distinguished atman – deha atma vivekam – and
believe in re birth
 Who realise servitude to God – Seshatvam – acharavata purushena
para: puman vishuraradhyate pantha: naanya: tatthosha karaka:
 Who want to convey gratitude to God by serving a social cause, as
per the divine design
 Who inculcate satvik qualities
Hurdles
 Anadi karma that hides indriya mana and budhhi, which are the
tools for performance
 Misunderstanding that bhogam can be achieved by sensual
gratification, when in fact, yogam leads to bhogam (sensual and
spiritual)
 No time
 Lethargy and carelessness as a result of tamo guna – aalasya nidra
pramada…
Objections
 Atma is blemishless – no need for karma which is a subject of body
 Karma and dharma are rituals which cannot cleanse – only jnana can
– plavahyete adhrudha yajna rupa:
 Karma and dharma are for the beginners. Jnana for the enlightened –
sarva karmakhilam partha jnana parisamapyate, yoga: karmasu
kaushalam
 No meaning in doing this outside karma bhumi
The right understanding
 Atman is tied to a body as a result of anadi past karma. Body and
mind, if not controlled, would constantly spoil the true nature of
atman
 Bhagavan out of causeless mercy to release the atman has designed
an integrated course of karma and jnana, karma to control the body
and senses, jnana for spiritual development. Either of them would
not be enough.
 If we follow this design, It pleases Bhagavan and He liberates the
atman
Simple daily schedule –Karma - Prioritise
 Snanam – physical and mental, cooking and eating after snanam
 Sandhyavandanam – strenghthens mind speech and body, results in papam if not done
 Pranayamam – refreshes prepares our body for karma anushthanam
 Deva puja / gou puja – to show gratitude and servitude, simpler replacement to yaga and yagnya
 Anusandhanam – reciting slokas and pasurams, nama / manthra japam- cleanses papam and purifies
 Detachment and renunciation in the form of mouna vratam ( talk less) and fasting
 Atithi satkar – feed the needy and guests or support those who do – cleanses pancha soona
 Strict food practice and meditating on divine form – develops satva guna
 Bhagavat bhagavata Acharya kainkaryam
 Listen to Bhagavat katha and celebate all festivals and utsvams as per tradition – engage children.
Dharma in daily life

 Idam sareeram kaunteya…- our body is a fertile land to cultivate value crops of atma guna
(auspicious attributes)
 Practise ahimsa – don’t offend anyone with mind speech and body
 Compassion on all beings – sarva bhuta daya
 Patience and forbearance – kshama, kshanti
 Honesty – sync mana vaak and kaaya
 Control senses – indriya nigraha and gradual detachment from material pleasure. Burning Urge for
liberation will make this possible
 Equanimity – do not discriminate based on birth education and wealth
 Reduce expectation and control anger
 Share wealth, create water banks, nurture trees, do not alter nature, build temples