Comments on: Question of the Week: What is my duty? http://www.swadharma.org/2009/09/17/what-is-my-duty/ The voice of Dharma Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:48:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: svat http://www.swadharma.org/2009/09/17/what-is-my-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-490 svat Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:32:25 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1913#comment-490 Perhaps this is pointing out the obvious, but there is a great loss of meaning when "dharma" is translated to "duty". Many of our scriptures, and certainly the Mahabharata, are concerned with the difficult question of what one's <i>dharma</i> is. It seems that dharma is not only your "duty", but also what your "natural" state of being is, what your roles in life/society are (as you pointed out), what your training and upbringing have made you suitable for, etc. To take two random examples that come to mind: the ocean, in the Ramayana, refuses to part to allow Rama and the vanaras through, as that would be breaking its <i>dharma</i>, and instead suggests building a bridge. Also, it is said e.g. that those with a predominantly <i>rajasic</i> state of mind are best suited for Karmayoga — that is their <i>dharma</i>? Thanks for this post… the question is worth pondering throughout one's life. (P.S.: I have been reading this blog for a few months now, and many of the posts are thought-provoking, but this is my first comment. Having to register just to make a comment is a (mild, but effective) deterrent. If this is <i>intended</i>, and you want to discourage casual commenters, that's fine, but in case you want comments it would be great if you enabled an OpenID plugin (say) or even anonymous comments.) Perhaps this is pointing out the obvious, but there is a great loss of meaning when “dharma” is translated to “duty”. Many of our scriptures, and certainly the Mahabharata, are concerned with the difficult question of what one’s dharma is. It seems that dharma is not only your “duty”, but also what your “natural” state of being is, what your roles in life/society are (as you pointed out), what your training and upbringing have made you suitable for, etc. To take two random examples that come to mind: the ocean, in the Ramayana, refuses to part to allow Rama and the vanaras through, as that would be breaking its dharma, and instead suggests building a bridge. Also, it is said e.g. that those with a predominantly rajasic state of mind are best suited for Karmayoga — that is their dharma?

Thanks for this post… the question is worth pondering throughout one’s life.

(P.S.: I have been reading this blog for a few months now, and many of the posts are thought-provoking, but this is my first comment. Having to register just to make a comment is a (mild, but effective) deterrent. If this is intended, and you want to discourage casual commenters, that’s fine, but in case you want comments it would be great if you enabled an OpenID plugin (say) or even anonymous comments.)

]]> By: Saketh http://www.swadharma.org/2009/09/17/what-is-my-duty/comment-page-1/#comment-489 Saketh Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:56:24 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1913#comment-489 "In a world where we have so many choices for everything ranging from where we live, to what brand of juice we drink, to what profession we choose, determining one’s duty is not always straightforward." So true. “In a world where we have so many choices for everything ranging from where we live, to what brand of juice we drink, to what profession we choose, determining one’s duty is not always straightforward.”

So true.

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