Passage 7

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

Each one must, on his own part too, keep these senses in full strength and, through the power and capacity of these senses, have the spirit of sacrifice that brings joy to others. Śarīram ādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhakam. This body came into being for the practice of Dharma.

What is Dharma? Bathing at daybreak, saying the sandhyā prayers, eating a meal: are these Dharma? In whatever way a man hopes others will honour him, in that way he must honour others: that is true Dharma. In whatever way we think it good for others to be, in that way we must be good ourselves. Whatever we blame as a fault when others do it, that fault we must not commit. That is true Dharma. Dharma means that we must follow the path our heart assents to. We must experience it with the heart as witness. This, they said, is true Dharma. This very thing is: Follow the master. Follow your own heart. Only then will this Vairāgya come to you. Face the devil. For this, Fight to the end. Finish the game: this is the goal of your life. To give secrets like this and true sayings like these to the world, they have, in many ways, set all such stories within the principles of the Avatāras, on a holy path. That is why Kabīr too said it. 'To the wicked, a salutation. To the good, a salutation,' he said. What meaning is there in saluting both? There is an inner meaning in saluting both. Why should one salute those who are wicked and evil? Then Kabīr said: 'O you who are wicked! I must not have your company; so, a salutation to you. O you who are good! There must be no parting from you; so, a salutation to you.' To the wicked, a salutation that says, 'Sir, I want no tie with you; a salutation; keep your distance'; to the good, a salutation that says, 'Sir, do not go, do not leave me, I cannot live without your company.' In this way you must salute the wicked and keep them at a distance. If you salute the good man and offer him everything, that is Dharma for you. That is, we must thrust away evil feelings, evil forces, evil practices and evil resolves, and go on developing good feelings, good practices, good qualities and the wealth of goodness. This the Veda too has: 'All of us are children of God. All must live together in harmony. All must put our strength to good use': so it has gone on teaching. 'That is Śānti for us,' it said. Sahanā vavatu, sahanā bhunaktu, sahavīryaṃ karavāvahai: in this way let us live together in harmony.