June 2026 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami--Svadharma
Srivatsa Ramaswami
June 2026 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami–Svadharma
In May 2026, between 11th to 30th, I taught a 100 hr Vinyasakrama program hosted by Miami Life Center in Miami Fl. The group was compact but all participated enthusiastically, The on line part was handled by Omstars.
In June I am scheduled to teach a 4 day brief program in Houston Texas. Here is the link to register.
https://www.pamjohnsonyoga.com/srivatsa-ramaswami-summer-2026
I will be teaching a 100 hr Vinyasakrama yoga Teacher Training program in July/August 2026 in Wicklow Ireland. Here is the link to register
Svadharma
Here is a brief write up. Many people emphasize the need for Karma Yoga. They quote that the Lord in the Gita commends doing one”s duty without being concerned about the benefits that would accrue.
Karmanyeva adhikarah te
Na phaleshu kadachana
Your duty is to act but no claim on the benefits.
It is easier said than done. Especially as there is another great saying
Prayojanam anuddhisya mandopi na pravartate
प्रयोजनं अनुद्दिश्य मन्दोपि न प्रवर्तते।
Without considering the benefits of an action even a dimwit does not act
But we must consider this commendation of the Lord with three other advices contained in the Gita to make it work. What are they?
One is the first and foremost teaching of the Lord to Arjuna about the nature of the Self. He by various ways explains to Arjuna that the real Self is pure unvarying consciousness and is thus immortal. That being the case Arjuna should act , do his duty of fighting the kauravas even if it would result in the destruction of his own granduncle and teacher who were very dear to him but in the opposite camp, without concern about the results or benefits. This first information about the nature of Self was never known to Arjuna like all of this. This knowledge of the Self conveyed and fortified by the reasons given by the Lord made a big difference to the attitude and thinking of Arjuna.
The Lord gives this advice at the outset in the second chapter itself before going into Karmayoga in the third chapter. When an individual is convinced that the real Self is immortal and no results of the actions would affect it in any way then adopting karma yoga would be natural. Otherwise it would be enormously difficult even impossible for most of us who study the Gita but hard to follow the teachings of the Lord.
The other teaching is that one should act as per one’s own innate nature– acting as per one’s nature or svabhava is svadharma. It is always better to act as per one’s innate nature rather than acting as per other’s dharma that may not be one’s svabhava. Here is what the Lord says in the Gita.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 3-35||
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is fear producing.
This is a very powerful piece of advice usually overlooked by the majority of people. Here is a story.
A very successful business couple had two children, bright twins. One was highly satvic. From childhood his interest was in studying the scriptures and trying to understand the importance like the nature of atman, of iswara, creation and similar studies. He liked these subjects and enjoyed sharing and discussing with other like minded friends and elders. The other kid was also very bright and was deeply engaged in dharma or law, order justice in the society. He wanted to join law enforcement. The first one wanted to study and share scriptural knowledge by teaching
In course of time. the aging business parents wanted the boys to join their business. The first one flatly refused saying that he would be a misfit and could not bring himself to be a businessman. He chose to remain a vedic scholar and be a teacher. With the parents unable to change his mind they let him pursue his own interest as per his innate svabhavic dharma. He turned out to be a teacher of vedic philosophy but very few were interested in this subject. And so life was tough for him. He could hardly make both ends meet. He lived a hand to mouth existence for his entire life. But he was immensely peaceful studying and teaching what was natural or svabhavic to him. He taught to the best of his ability and that was his reward. The intellectual satisfaction was rewarding and the very activity of teaching what he liked was immensely satisfying. He was content with what little he could earn with his teachings.
The parents pleaded with the other son to join the business and run it as they would retire soon. He also wanted to follow his own dream of becoming a law enforcement person by joining the police force. But he yielded to the persuasion and pleadings of his parents and joined the family business. He became a successful businessman as he was bright and hard working. But during his life as a businessman he had to do a few unethical acts contrary to his natural tendency to be upright and maintain dharma. This and the unfulfilled natural desire of maintaining law and order left a deep void in his psyche. Though rich famous and successful he was a very unhappy person
In the end the first son was poor but serene and contended.He did his work and derived satisfaction by doing what came to him as per svabhavika or innate dharma. He could function as a karma yogi as the very work he did, the satisfaction he derived from it, was the reward. But the other one though was rich, famous and powerful yearned for something he missed by choosing to follow not svabhavika dharma but paradharma.
And then the Lord answers the question about what would happen to the results of the acts of karmayogi. The Lord asks the karmayogi to offer the results to the Lord Himself at the lotus feet of the Lord.
Here is the mantra used by karmayogis at the end of dharmic activity
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा ।
बुद्ध्यात्मना वा प्रकृतेः स्वभावात् ।
करोमि यद्यत्सकलं परस्मै ।
नारायणयेति समर्पयामि ॥
Kaayena Vaacaa Manase[a-I]ndriyair-Vaa
Buddhy[i]-Aatmanaa Vaa Prakrteh Svabhaavaat |
Karomi Yad-Yat-Sakalam Parasmai
Naaraayannayeti Samarpayaami ||
Whatever actions I perform with my body, speech, mind, or senses, with my intellect, self, or by my inherent nature—whatever they may be, I offer them all to the Supreme Nārāyaṇa.
Summarizing kartmayoga is feasible under following situations
A clear understanding even if it is through scriptures or dependable authority that the real Self is pure unvarying and hence immortal consciousness. This leads to the mindset that the real self is not affected by actions or the results thereof.
One should follow the innate dharma or swadharma and choose an avocation consistent with one’s svadharma/svabhava or innate nature
Offer the results of all such activities to the lotus feet of the Lord
Mere platitudes that one should do one's duty without aspiring for the benefits do not appear to work. Knowledge of the Self, even paroksha ( indirect), staying with a vocation as per innate nature and surrender to the Lord would create the right condition to function as a karmayogi.