#194 Victory of good over bad?
During Navaratri, the festival of nine nights of the Goddess we celebrate the victory of Devi Durga over Mahishasura, an asura given to adharma, hurtful living. We also celebrate the victory of Bhagavan Sri Rama as he killed Ravana in battle.
What is the meaning of Victory of Dharma over Adharma’ (victory of good over evil)? Evil is an evil word and I prefer not using it.
One may ask a question – So what if they were victorious..what does it have to do with us now, in the twenty first century? The answer is Sanatana Dharma, the framework of laws and principles that sustains and keeps the society in a dynamic balance. It was important then. It is important now.
One may argue further – But there are no demons now, you know those ugly creatures with superpowers, protruding teeth, horns on the head, grotesque looking creatures. These seem to exist only in Science fiction. The forms have changed but Asura like qualities where there then. They are there now too.
This battle between devas, divine beings who bless and beings who bind us are as much external as internal.
Duryodhana speaks of the battle in his heart.
Jaanaami dharmam na cha me pravrttih,
jaanaamyadharmam na cha me nivrttih;
kenaapi devena hrdi sthitena yathaa niyuktosmi tathaa karomi”
Meaning – “I know what is dharma, yet I cannot get myself to follow it! I know what is adharma, yet I cannot move away from it! O Lord of the senses! You dwelt in my heart and I will do as you impel me to do.”
Duryodhana is referring to his jealousy that consumed him so much that he plotted to kill the Pandavas since childhood and went into war causing the destruction of his family, the Kauravas.
The battle between the forces of Dharma and Adharma rage in our hearts too. An entire chapter in the Bhagavad Gita, the 16th chapter called Daivasura-sampad-vibhaga yogah speaks of the becoming and unbecoming dispositions or the qualities of the devas and asuras.
Qualities which are considered the wealth of the devas are for freedom and the wealth of the asuras in the form of their qualities keep them in bondage and sorrow.
On the basis of some of the qualities mentioned, here are some battles that rage in our hearts. Who will emerge victorious? Dharma or Adharma?
There is a battle between ahimsa, and himsa, non-hurting and hurting. Your partner kept quiet when your mother-in law was giving you some pointers about how the kids should be brought up. You are fuming and now angry with your partner as he was distracted with his phone. As soon as you get a quiet moment with your partner you lash out at him and dig out all the episodes where you have not been supported. He too is struggling with his mother who tends to be interfering but you want to punish him for the hurt you experience. You say things like I should have not married you, I made a big mistake etc. In situations of intense emotion, will one uphold ahimsa in one’s words, appropriately express anger but not victimise or diminish the person or will one perpetuate the cycle of hurt by hurting the other, to feel vindicated? In the battle between ahimsa and himsa, non-hurting and hurting, the choice lies with us and so does the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between Ashuddhi and Sattva-samshuddhi. Ashuddhi are impurities in the form of ragas and dveshas which make me crave for some interactions and hate other interactions. Sattva-samshuddhi is purity of mind or freedom from ragas and dveshas. Suppose I had a broken romantic relationship and now believe that people of the other gender are manipulative and cannot be trusted. I try to avoid them to the extent you can. This dvesha, aversion towards the gender keeps me upset and wallowing in the past. On the other hand, sattvasamshuddhi would involve being clear about the hurt that I have experienced and taking steps to address it so that one ‘s strong dvesha gets reduced. I need not define oneself by a few events of one’s life. Will I uphold Dharma of sattvasamshuddhi or will I allow myself to become hateful, badmouth the person, take revenge and create hell for the person. The choice lies with me and so does the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between abhayam and bhayam. Freedom from fear and Fear which has just grown like a forest fire, after reading an article on cancer and playing the game, what if? The fear could be about getting cancer, speaking up in front of the boss, fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of what people will say. Will I uphold Dharma in my actions despite fear and act in courage or will I allow fear to rule my life? The choice lies with us and so does the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between daanam, giving and adaanam, hoarding one’s wealth. Do I say that that people cannot be trusted with money. After all money corrupts. Or Since I worked hard for my money, others should too and not be dependent. Or Do I give of my money, time, resources, skills because one sees that there is a need. One contributes. Will I uphold the Dharma of giving or will I uphold hoarding and hide behind my excuses? The choice is in my hands and so is the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between chanchalatvam, distraction and ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः, steadiness in contemplation. Recommended videos on youtube, must read and watch lists on social media, whatsapp forwards from well-meaning friends, so many gurus, so many texts and so little time. I am titillated by novelty and hence while watching something, if I don’t feel good, I just move onto the next. In the name of consuming information I don’t learn much and am just getting impatient. Can I see what distraction is doing to me and my pursuits particularly Vedanta? Rather than waiting for one more text, one more video or the perfect guru, can one apply and abide in the knowledge that one already has? Will I uphold chanchalatvam distraction or ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः contemplating on what I already know? The choice lies with me and so does the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between daya, compassion and indifference. If I show compassion, it will lead to the other taking advantage of my kindness or fooling me with a sob-story? After all, I have n’t taken on the mantle of helping all those who come into my life. On the other hand, if it was me in the situation requiring some kindness and understanding, would I have expected compassion? Will I uphold the dharma of compassion or indifference? The choice is in my hands and so is the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between satyam, truthfulness and lies. In my CV, do I add a few achievements and white lies to be appear more impressive, justifying that everyone does it. Or do I share what is the truth about my contributions in my previous companies? Will I uphold the dharma of satyam, truthfulness or lies? The choice is in my hands and so is the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
There is a battle between shaanti, peace and ashanti. Am I in harmony with the laws of nature and hence can see the play of karma and karma phala? Can I be at peace with what is happening around me with the disposition of karma yoga? Or Do I make a problem of any situation? Do I think that neither I am ok nor are others and perpetuate ashanti, absence of peace in my life? Will I uphold the dharma of shanti, peace or ashanti, disturbance? The choice is in my hands and so is the victory of Dharma. Who will win?
Some more battles rage in my heart.
In the battle between aarjavam, straightforwardness and hypocrisy, who will win?
In the battle between Tapas, Religious discipline and convenience, who will win?
In the battle between Dhrti, fortitude and alasyam, laziness, who will win?
In the battle between Kshama, accommodation of others and intolerance, who will win?
Dharma lives in everyone’s hearts and comes alive in our actions.
Dharma is protected when I protect it by living a life of Dharma. As we see, Dharma is not a set of abstract principles or some metaphysical theory but values that determine our choices. Every day, Every week. Every month and Every year.
Then, do I need a special time like a festival to live a life of dharma?
Are there special meditations to live a life of dharma?
We have the dialogue between the two forces and allow Dharma to win. Every time.
Dharma or Adharma. The freedom is ours to choose.
Asato ma sat gamaya – Lead me from darkness unto light
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya – Lead me from tamas, darkness to light
Mrtyur ma amrtam gamaya – Lead me from death to immortality
Om shantih shantih shantih
