Aptavani-1
Aptavani 1
Dharma – Re ligion; One’s Duty
‘What is dharma?’
It is anything that remains in and results in its own intrinsic
properties.
Dharma means one’s intrinsic nature and properties.
For example, when can you call gold, gold? It is only
when it exhibits the properties that are intrinsic to gold. Another
example is if these grapes are bitter, then you could say that it
does not exhibit its intrinsic property. Brass can look and shine
just like gold if it is polished enough. But if a goldsmith were to
test it, he would be able to tell that it is not gold from the
intrinsic properties of that metal.
There are two mangos in front of you. One mango has an
aroma and given time it will become a little dry, the skin will
shrivel and will eventually begin to rot. The other one looks
exactly like a mango, only it is made out of wood. It does not
have the aroma; it will not shrivel or rot. They are both mangos,
but one does not have the qualities of a real mango. The real
mango will exhibit its natural properties. It can only be called a
mango if it has and remains within its natural attributes.
Similarly you can say that a thing is in its innate nature,