Quick Thoughts on Dharma

The Upanishads selections (235) states,

           

                        The good is one thing, the gratifying is quite another;

                        their goals are different, both bind a man.

                        Good things await him who picks the good;

                        by choosing the gratifying, one misses one’s goal.

                        Both the good and the gratifying

                        present themselves to a man;

                        The wise assess them, note their difference;

                        and choose the good over the gratifying;

                        But the fool chooses the gratifying

                        rather than what is beneficial.

This portion of the reading immediately grabbed my attention. I think the concept expressed in this passage ties into the very essence of dharma, or at least the idea of dharma I grew up with. Dharma is a multifaceted, abstract idea, but I think this passage can be understood as a quick, simplified version of dharma. As a member of a Hinduism practicing household, I grew up believing that dharma can be summed up as following your duty along the “correct path” and doing what is “good” based on your life circumstances. Good is always an interesting term to use when describing dharma because doing your duty according to dharma might not necessarily align with what is considered good. For example, in a famous Hindu story, the god Krishna must convince the warrior Arjuna to kill because it is good according to his dharma, even though he believes killing to be the opposite of good. For Arjuna and his life circumstances, killing was the “good” decision. This passage, and the rest of the reading, similarly emphasizes that the wise man, one who is closer to Brahman, chooses what is good over what is gratifying, or immediately pleasurable or enjoyable.