Miscellaneous - Religion   

Guiding principles

CHENNAI: Religious texts offer basic values that are very relevant to modern living. Of the two types of sacred literature, Sruti is immutable but Smriti which is man made and deals with conduct allows space for interpretation and extension of its principles to modern situations. Such interpretation must always be in consonance with its sprit and in accordance with the Sruti. This distinction between the two types of texts needs to be understood, otherwise there will be misplaced rigidity which makes people move away from orthodoxy. For instance, two values can be drawn out that would provide useful guidance for doing service to the community at large and for the conduct of one’s own business, said Swami Dayananda Saraswati in a talk in Manjakkudi.

Ancient Hindu religious texts ordain a wide range of charitable works including building choultries for travellers every sixth mile, lakes and ponds, homes for the disabled and altars of worship besides feeding the needy. The list is only illustrative and could be extended to similar activities such as schools, colleges and homes for the aged and children that are needed in modern times. What is most important is that an individual or an organisation taking up such activities should function in the true spirit of selfless service. Social service with strings attached or with an ulterior motive is not true Seva.

Religious texts are perfectly compatible with doing business and allow earning to the full extent of one’s capacity. Yet, in doing business, the means and how one conducts oneself are very important. Of the four Purusharthas, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, Dharma is placed on top and is the most important. Dharma thus sets the limit within which Artha could be pursued and on no account should there be a transgression of Dharma. Dharma is the concept of duty that one has to follow in every role and within the parameters set by Dharma, one is free to pursue business and accumulate to whatever extent one wishes. Thus the prescribed motivation of selflessness in the case of Seva and the edict that the means for pursuing Artha or wealth should conform to Dharma serve as valuable guiding principles in modern life.

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