Changes

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६- २४॥ (Bhag. Gita. 16.24)

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६- २४॥ (Bhag. Gita. 16.24)

Meaning: Let the shastras be your authority in deciding what you should do and what you should desist from doing.<ref>Jois, Rama. ''DHARMA - The Global Ethic'', Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. (Page 18-19)</ref>

Meaning: Let the shastras be your authority in deciding what you should do and what you should desist from doing.<ref name=":14">Jois, Rama. ''DHARMA - The Global Ethic'', Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. (Page 18-19)</ref>

Every act or conduct which was in disobedience to rules of Dharma was called Adharma and was declared to be injurious to society and the individual.

Every act or conduct which was in disobedience to rules of Dharma was called Adharma and was declared to be injurious to society and the individual.

==== Kama drives Karma ====

==== Kama drives Karma ====

We have seen that all the causes of our actions are the motives or desires which lie within ourselves. So long as these desires are there, we are forced to work and reap the fruit of our labours. In everyday life each individual is constantly performing some kind of work from some motive. Some work for money, some for name and fame; some work in the hope of attaining heavens, and others as a penance. Yet when their treasure houses are full, they still reach out for the peace and happiness which their wealth cannot bring them.<ref name=":11" />

We have seen that all the causes of our actions are the motives or desires which lie within ourselves. Manu stated it earlier that<blockquote>अकामस्य क्रिया काचिद्दृश्यते नेह कर्हिचित् । यद्यद्धि कुरुते किं चित्तत्तत्कामस्य चेष्टितम् । । २.४ (Manu. Smrti. 2.4)</blockquote>Meaning: There is no act of man which is free from desire; whatever a man does is the result of the impulse of desire.<ref name=":14" />

 

So long as these desires are there, we are forced to work and reap the fruit of our labours. In everyday life each individual is constantly performing some kind of work from some motive. Some work for money, some for name and fame; some work in the hope of attaining heavens, and others as a penance. Yet when their treasure houses are full, they still reach out for the peace and happiness which their wealth cannot bring them.<ref name=":11" />

All work done through selfish motives binds the Atma to the fruits of Karma generated thereof, and is in consequence a cause of bondage. By working for work’s sake and not to fulfil selfish desires the law of karma will be broken and we become limitless. A few who work without personal motive, without desire for return, and they are the salt of the earth. They work as if they were paying of a debt which they owe to society, to parents, to humanity. If we can labour with this idea, that we do is merely to cancel our debt to the universe, then we can work for work's sake. When we pay off a debt, do we think of getting something in return? No; we do our work, cancel our obligation, and think no more about it. Every individual, on account of his birth, owes something to state and country, to family and neighbours; to his spiritual teachers, and to his higher Self. By being a good member of society, by doing what he can to help all other members, and by making every effort to fulfil his obligation to the community and to mankind, he can repay his debt.<ref name=":11" />

All work done through selfish motives binds the Atma to the fruits of Karma generated thereof, and is in consequence a cause of bondage. By working for work’s sake and not to fulfil selfish desires the law of karma will be broken and we become limitless. A few who work without personal motive, without desire for return, and they are the salt of the earth. They work as if they were paying of a debt which they owe to society, to parents, to humanity. If we can labour with this idea, that we do is merely to cancel our debt to the universe, then we can work for work's sake. When we pay off a debt, do we think of getting something in return? No; we do our work, cancel our obligation, and think no more about it. Every individual, on account of his birth, owes something to state and country, to family and neighbours; to his spiritual teachers, and to his higher Self. By being a good member of society, by doing what he can to help all other members, and by making every effort to fulfil his obligation to the community and to mankind, he can repay his debt.<ref name=":11" />

Activity of mind and body is the condition of life; absolute inactivity means death. This activity finds expression variously in the ordinary work of our everyday existence; and this work can be divided into three classes according to the motive which inspires it.

Activity of mind and body is the condition of life; absolute inactivity means death. This activity finds expression variously in the ordinary work of our everyday existence; and this work can be divided into three classes according to the motive which inspires it.

* The first class includes ail that we do for the preservation of the body and for the gratification of the senses.  

* The first class includes all that we do for the preservation of the body and for the gratification of the senses.

* The second embraces all actions done from a sense of duty

* The second embraces all actions done from a sense of duty

* The third, all that is done freely and with love.  

* The third, all that is done freely and with love.