Dharma and Karma

Karma
Two meanings-- (1) action itself is called karma. Action can be good; hence good karma; or bad; hence bad karma (2) the law of cause and effect is also karma. Every action performed has an equal reaction. Good karma can begets good results, and bad karma begets bad results.The factor that determines whether karma/action is good or bad is Dharma.

DharmaLiterally dharma means that which 'holds together'. In the context of our lives, dharma means the performance of karma according to what is rightful in our lives. If we perform good karma according to what is rightful in our lives, then it will not only hold our lives together but will also hold together, family, community, and society. Each person's dharma is different What is rightful for one may not be so for another. For example, a doctor's dharma is different from a soldier's dharma. While it is a doctor's dharma to save lives; it is a soldier's to take lives. Therefore, even in this apparent polarity, both are performing good karma; hence both are following the codes of dharma. Furthermore, our dharma changes in every stage and aspect of our lives. For example, the dharma you have as a student is different from the dharma you need to uphold as an employee, sibling, child, spouse, etc. Therefore at all time, we need to consider ALL dharmas pertaining to ALL the roles in our life. The problem occurs, when the dharma of one role conflicts with another. What do we do then? Which dharma do we chose to uphold, and which one do we sacrifice? For example, if the soldier, instead of killing his enemy began to save his enemy's life, would he/she be performing good karma. He/she has to uphold many roles here: of a compassionate human being, of a citizen of the world; but also of a soldier; and of a citizen of his/her country. What would be rightful action for this soldier?

This conflict is at the core of Hindu philosophy and this is what reflects in The Mahabharata. How do we resolve this conflict? How do we decide what is rightful action? Only we can decide which dharma to uphold and how. No one can tell us what choices to make--not even the gods. Therefore the determination of karma (cause and effect) is all dependent on us and our free will. Hence, the good or bad karma is what we reap individually.No one is exempt from dharma--not even the gods. Even the gods have their own dharma to perform, as do the dark forces. Therefore, if it is the dharma of the dark forces to sustain darkness, then they cannot be faulted for it. In fact, a dark force performing his/her dharma is more exalted than a divine performing adarma. (The opposite of dharma is adharma)For more information on some basic dharmas common to us all and also the Hindu's roles in life, please see the Course Documents