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Good Morning. A word from India, which we are beginning to hear more here, is dharma .
Simply, it means to do the right thing. It’s a very important idea for Indians of many
different faiths, and indeed for non-theists, because everyone should do the right thing. I
think we all have difficulty being good but the following tale, from the Indian sacred epic
Mahabharata, gave me an insight into dharma.

There was a priest named Kausika who lived in the forest, and he had taken a vow that, ‘I
will always speak the truth.’ He became famous for following his vow. Once some people
came to the forest where he lived attempting to escape from a gang of robbers. The robbers
arrived and approached Kausika saying, ‘A host of people came by here a little while ago.
Which way did they go?’ What was Kausika to do?

As was his practice he stuck to his idea of dharma, and told the truth, ‘They entered this
wood here.’ Acting on this information, the robbers pursued their victims and when they
found them they killed them all. And because, in this case, speaking the truth caused such
harm, Kausika did not receive the benefits of his pious practice of truth but was
condemned.

I liked the practical rather than doctrinaire view of morality. The storyteller, Krishna, added
that dharma is subtle, and you have to know the principles behind it. He said that acting for
the welfare of others was more important than truth in this instance. In fact he said that it is the principle that governs all dharma.

Dear Lord, one difficulty of being good is when I search for easy rules and neglect
discernment based on my principles. By your grace I will endeavour to put welfare over
rules, to cause least harm, and to nurture kindness. Hare Krishna