416
Aptavani-2
Yogeshwar Lord Krishna
Questioner : What is swa-dharma? The Vaishnav
religion tells us to remain in swa-dharma and not to go to par-
dharma.
Dadashri : Our people have not understood the word
swa-dharma at all. They think swa-dharma is the Vaishnav
religion and par-dharma is all other religions such as Shaivism,
Jainism etc. Lord Krishna said, “Par-dharma bhayavaha,”
People understood this to mean, ‘There is danger in practicing
any religion other than the Vaishnav religion.’ All the other
religions too say that par-dharma means there is danger in other
religions, but no one understands the true meaning of swa-
dharma or par-dharma. Par-dharma means dharma of the non-
self, the body complex, prakruti, and swa-dharma is the dharma
of the Self. Washing and bathing the body, making it fast etc.,
are all religions of the body; it is par-dharma. There is no swa-
dharma in that. The Self is your natural state (swaroop). Lord
Krishna had said, “The religion of the Self is swa-dharma and
any other activities such as fasting or penance are activities of
the non-self. There is nothing of the Self in them.”
Swa-dharma can only be practiced when one understands
and recognizes that one’s Self within, is Krishna. A true
Vaishnav is the one who recognizes the Lord Krishna within.
Today there is no one who has become a true Vaishnav. Not
even according to the definition, “Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye
je piid parayii jane re - a true Vaishnav is the one who knows
the suffering of others.”
These Vaishnavs say, “We practice Lord Krishna’s