It is often believed in Indian philosophy that one should follow Dharma to unlock one’s full potential and experience life at its best. Hence, the question arises: Is Dharma essential to living a purposeful life?
Human life is the sum total of two things:
- Self-expectations – These are the expectations we set for ourselves. For example, having a good job, earning financial stability, maintaining good health, and owning a house with all necessary comforts are part of self-expectations.
- Social expectations – As social beings, our actions have an impact on the larger community. Hence, we are expected to fulfill certain social expectations, such as:
- Taking care of our family and loved ones.
- Contributing positively to society through our work or service.
- Respecting cultural values, traditions, and laws.
- Maintaining harmonious relationships with others.
- Acting with responsibility toward the environment and future generations.
The difference between the two can be stated as the difference between desires and duties. Though we may not always realize it, a balance between the two is what gives us the best experience of life. Yet, most often, we complain about our duties while holding tightly to our desires. This imbalance is where we begin to lose both ends of life.
Prosperity and goodness are like the two ends of the same road that runs parallel throughout our journey. If we want a smooth passage along this road of life, we must maintain and repair both ends. This act of constant maintenance and repair is what we call Dharma.
To understand this better, let us take the example of Duryodhana, one of the most powerful characters in the Mahabharata. He had almost everything at his disposal — wealth, power, and authority as the eldest son of King Dhritarashtra. In other words, he had prosperity. But what he lacked was goodness. And because of this imbalance, he could never live in peace. In the end, despite his strength and influence, he was defeated and killed in the great battle of the Mahabharata.
Some people might argue that a balance between desire and duties and prosperity and goodness can be maintained even without Dharam. This statement needs little correction, those who are aware about the Indian philosophy, this middle path of balance itself is called Dharma. Dharam in Indian philosophy is not the Hindi translation of English word religion. we will discuss this difference in detail in our next article. Going back to our question, Is Dharma essential to living a purposeful life? The answer to this question is yes, you can have a purposeful life without religion but not without Dharma, Dharma is very essential in bringing the best out of you because at times we may not realize what is the best choice in a given situation, this dharma will help you in making that best choice.
Now let’s understand how Dharm helps you in making those best choices-
- Prosperity in modern society has become an overrated affair, and this has reversed the natural order of life. Today, many believe that prosperity paves the way to goodness, whereas in reality, it should be the other way around—goodness must give rise to true prosperity. Because of this reversal, we may have developed systems of public goodness—such as laws, rights, and institutions—but in the process, we are slowly eroding our personal goodness, the inner values that once formed the foundation of our social fabric. Dharm, help you bring prosperity through goodness which is more permanent.
- Dharma also helps us achieve satisfaction in our material life. When this sense of duty is absent, greed takes over. We see it when politicians and officials siphon off aid meant for the poor who struggle even for a single meal. We see it when powerful businessmen orchestrate massive scams that not only cheat ordinary people of their hard-earned money but also cause immense loss to the nation.
- Dharma guides us onto the path of sacrifice, where we willingly fulfill our duties. Such sacrifice helps us realize our true potential and leads to success that is enduring, not temporary. Indian philosophy has always emphasized this clarity of duties and Dharma, which can be especially powerful in guiding students to stay focused during the most productive years of their lives. If embraced, this vision can transform India into a provider of solutions rather than a seeker of solutions. In today’s time, the world urgently needs such a vision—one rooted in humanity and sustainability.
- Dharma teaches us to serve others — both humans and nature. This spirit of service brings clarity to our ideas and goals. Material gains in a job or business are temporary, since they can be obtained through many other sources. But when service becomes the guiding motive, it creates a sense of permanence and deeper purpose. This not only makes our journey more meaningful but also helps us achieve our goals in a more effective and sustainable manner.