DHARMA DUTY

The duty that is imposed upon a person by his own nature is called, in Vedanta, dharma.  This is the lesson of the Bhagavad-Gita.  In the Gita, Arjuna is a member of the warrior caste who has accepted the responsibilities of a military leader.  He is to lead his men in a civil war against the army of his foster brother, who has tricked him and his natural brothers out of the kingdom they should have inherited.

However, seeing that the opposing army is comprised of many of his kinsmen and old friends, Arjuna decides that he would rather die himself than kill them.  He begs the advise of Krishna, who is living on earth in human form, and who has agreed to be his charioteer.  Krishna tells him that he, Arjuna, must fight because this is his dharma, the duty his own nature has imposed upon him.

Arjuna cannot now impulsively disown his dharma, Krishna says, cannot now try to obey some other idea of duty.  A dharma that is not naturally his own will lead him into spiritual confusion, Krishna explains, adding, "If you say 'I will not fight,' your resolve is in vain.  Your own nature will drive you to the act." 

This applies equally to a person whose nature is spirituality.  He will quite possibly go through life in all sorts of other capacities than is his true nature would have, but in the end he will yield, he will become that aspirant or monk or priest or spiritual teacher, for so is it meant to be.  And just as Arjuna entered the battle and was victorious, so too will be the spiritual person in his course, and for the same reason.