Dharma ~ our purpose in life, our true calling, our destiny
The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient story about the dialogue between a warrior prince and his charioteer. Arjuna, the warrior prince, must go into battle to reclaim his kingdom. However, as he realizes that fighting means killing his own family and friends, doubts begin to creep in. He discusses his dilemma with his charioteer, who is actually Lord Krishna in disguise. Krishna explains the vital importance of following one’s dharma; as a warrior, Arjuna’s purpose is to fight for what is rightfully his. In fact, to reject his dharma would be considered a sin.
Your dharma is your true calling and purpose in life. If you want to reach enlightenment and find peace, you must follow it. While ignoring your dharma today might not feel like committing a literal sin, it often leaves us feeling out of balance, irritated or as though something vital is missing. We might struggle to be truly authentic, finding ourselves more unhappy than happy.
Your dharma might not always seem cool or perfect, let alone easy to achieve. It might not be as fancy or amazing as you thought it would be. You might not even know what your dharma is yet. However, that uncertainty is exactly what the journey is about: going out to find it, embracing it and doing your absolute best to fulfil it. Fulfilling your dharma means tackling all of the inner and outer challenges that might come your way.
Choosing not to search for or follow your dharma might seem like the easier path at first. Yet, ignoring it ultimately costs more nerves, brings more stress and can cause unhappiness or even harm to ourselves and others. When you ignore your calling and silence your inner voice, you stay stuck exactly where you are – which, in a way, could be considered a sin.
There is a well-known quote that says, „Sometimes what you are most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free,“ and another by Ralph Waldo Emerson: „Always do what you are afraid to do.“ To find and follow our dharma, we must learn to hear our intuition again and listen to our inner voice. We have to face our fears, our emotions and our challenges, overcoming the hurdles in our lives no matter how big or small they may be.
We are often afraid to face the things life throws at us for many reasons, though. This fear might stem from an unknown outcome, how others might react, or what people think of us. We might also realize that we simply cannot control the final result. Consequently, we think things like, „It does not seem to be worth the effort,“ believing it is not worth our time or energy. We worry that we cannot achieve our goals, that people won’t understand us, or that we might upset, argue with, or disappoint others – and perhaps even ourselves.
The funny thing is this is most likely how it is for everybody. We are like Arjuna, ready to go into battle, only to have doubts creep up at the last minute. We are all going through these motions – trying to overcome fear and shame, finding the courage to do what feels right, and showing up for ourselves. Ultimately, we are doing what we know we must do to follow our calling, our dharma.
Nowadays, we are not going into epic battles over kingdoms, but we all face our own battles, no matter how big or small. It might be getting the kids ready for school, preparing ourselves for the workday, maintaining a daily practice, or taking five minutes to truly listen to someone. It could be speaking your truth, starting a new job, buying a house, getting married, or going through a divorce. Sometimes, the battle is simply saying no to a block of chocolate and yes to a carrot, choosing to leave a relationship, or fully committing to one. It is sharing your ideas, standing up for your dreams, moving to another country, or simply exploring your own backyard.
Another common phrase is, „Do what you love.“ You could also say, „Live your dharma,“ which we know is sometimes difficult to discover or define. Sometimes, we realize it isn’t about doing what we love initially, but rather doing what we are good at, which in turn grows into something we love. At times, it is completely obvious—something that was always there, woven into what we have been doing all along. Other times, we have to actively search for it. Yet, we all possess natural gifts and things that come easily to us, whether we are currently aware of them or need to rediscover them.
It is said that dharma protects those who protect it. By overcoming his fears and worries, Arjuna fought the epic battle against his own family and friends, putting aside all anxiety about the possible outcome. Because he won that battle, his family reclaimed their kingdom; by following his calling, he received what was rightfully his.
Even when others misunderstand our actions or assume we are trying to manipulate a certain outcome, we know the truth. When we act in alignment with our purpose, we stay true to ourselves and follow our unique path. We take action for the sake of the action itself, not for the reward. In doing so, our dharma is protected.
When we finally gather our courage, follow our path and take action, we know it was the right thing to do – regardless of the outcome. Instantly, relief washes over us. Our hearts lighten, our eyes smile, and we find ourselves fully present. We must treasure and remember this special moment. The next time we face a steep stair to climb, we can step forward with a bit more ease, an uncertain smile, and the deep trust that everything will be fine.
There are people who believe that whatever they do is the right choice at any given moment. Most of the time, they are completely certain, even if others disagree. In their reality, it is the only path to take. Ultimately, only they truly know their dharma. Only they will know if they are acting accordingly, or if they are being led by desire, fear, and the need for control. While what is right or wrong remains debatable and opinions will always vary, it is not for us to judge whose intentions are good or bad.
I believe that searching for and following our dharma is a brave way to live. It is also completely fine to be braver on some days than on others. Even Arjuna was a great warrior, and yet great warriors still have days when they question their every action. In the end, however, they do what they do best: they fight. When we refuse to lose sight of our dharma, we will eventually find our way back to our path, doing what we are good at and what makes us happy.
So, choose what makes your heart sing and your eyes shine. Choose what excites you and know that you will overcome the hurdles along the way. Choose what allows you to walk your path and live your dharma. It might not always be easy. You might lose things or part ways with people along the journey, but it will be worth it in the end. And remember, don’t be too hard on yourself when you occasionally choose the block of chocolate instead of the carrot.
