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Wherever there is fire, there is heat and light. Therefore heat and light is the dharma or religion of fire. That means fire cannot change its dharma. As this dharma, as we generally understand by the word faith, that we can change

Expressions researched:
"Wherever there is fire, there is heat and light. Therefore heat and light is the dharma, or religion, of fire" |"That means fire cannot change its dharma. As this dharma, as we generally understand by the word" |"that we can change"

Lectures

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

In the dictionary we find religion means a particular type of faith. But dharma does not mean that. Dharma means natural occupation. That is called dharma. I have several times explained this word dharma in this class. Just like heat of the fire. Without heat, a fire has no meaning. Wherever there is fire, there is heat and light. Therefore heat and light is the dharma, or religion, of fire. That means fire cannot change its dharma. As this dharma, as we generally understand by the word "faith," that we can change.

The same word, dharma. Svanuṣṭhitasya: prescribed duty. Svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhiḥ, the perfection. How you are perfected by discharging your occupational duty, how it is tested? That test is svanuṣṭhitasya dharmasya saṁsiddhiḥ. Your occupational duty will be perfect when? Saṁsiddhir Hari-toṣaṇam (SB 1.2.13). When you satisfy the Supreme Lord by your occupational duty. That is dharma.

Now let us consider what is our occupational duty. I purposely do not translate this word dharma as "religion." "Religion" is imperfect conception of the word dharma. In the dictionary we find religion means a particular type of faith. But dharma does not mean that. Dharma means natural occupation. That is called dharma. I have several times explained this word dharma in this class. Just like heat of the fire. Without heat, a fire has no meaning. Wherever there is fire, there is heat and light. Therefore heat and light is the dharma, or religion, of fire.

That means fire cannot change its dharma. As this dharma, as we generally understand by the word "faith," that we can change. Today I am Hindu. I can become tomorrow a Christian. You are Christian today. You can become, I mean to say, Hindu or Muslim tomorrow. So this faith can be changed, but this dharma, as I explain, that natural sequence, natural occupation or natural intimately connection . . . just like the fire, heat and light. This cannot be changed. Either the fire is in America or the fire is in India or a fire is in Russia, the heat and light is there. That is actually the dharma.

Now here Kṛṣṇa says that yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata (BG 4.7): as soon as there is discrepancy in the discharge of that natural, I mean to say, sequence of the living entity. Abhyutthānam adharmasya. Abhyutthānam means uprising of unnatural activities or unnatural occupation, which is not for him. Abhyutthānam adharmasya tadā, "At that time," ātmānam, "self," sṛjāmy Aham. Sṛjāmy Aham means "I descend or appear."

Now, this sequence of dharma is explained in the last paragraph . . . I mean to say, not last; in the last chapter, sixty-seventh verse of the Eighteenth Chapter. The Lord says that sarva-dharmān parityajya (BG 18.66): "You just give up all kinds of occupational duty or religiosity." We have created all kinds of religious formula. So Kṛṣṇa says that, "You give up all kinds of religious formula." But what is to be done? Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66): "You just surrender unto Me."

Page Title:Wherever there is fire, there is heat and light. Therefore heat and light is the dharma or religion of fire. That means fire cannot change its dharma. As this dharma, as we generally understand by the word faith, that we can change
Compiler:Anurag
Created:2022-09-02, 06:31:35
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1