Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

absolute principles of societynew elaborations of this knowledge that have emerged have their seeds,therefore, in the earlier discussions. To maintain continuity with morecurrent formulations of Maharishi’s Vedic Science and Technology,from time to time this article will also refer to Maharishi’s later expressionsof these principles.Dharma as the Absolute Basis of SocietyThe absolute basis of the principles of society is brought out byMaharishi in his commentary on the first verse of Chapter I. The verse,in Sanskrit and in Maharishi’s translation, is as follows:/Otr;¢{ ¦v;c/mR=e+e kü =e+e smvet; yuyuTsv"m;mk;" p;°2v;Äwv ikmkuvRt sïyDhԆitarԀshtra uvԀchaDharma-kshetre kuru-kshetre samavetԀ yuyutsavaԝmԀmakԀԝ PԀԗdavԀsh chaiva kim akurvata Sanjaya(Bhagavad-GԂtԀ, 1.1)DhԆitarԀshtra said:Assembled on the field of Dharma, O Sanjaya, on thefield of the Kurus, eager to fight, what did my peopleand the PԀԗdavas do?Commenting on this verse, Maharishi (1967) singles out the term“dharma,” and provides a precise definition of it:“Dharma” is that invincible power of nature which upholds existence. Itmaintains evolution and forms the very basis of cosmic life. It supportsall that is helpful for evolution and discourages all that is opposed to it.Dharma is that which promotes worldly prosperity and spiritual freedom.(pp. 26–27)As Maharishi’s commentary progresses, it becomes evident that thisdefinition is fundamental to the entire teaching of the Bhagavad-Gītā.Maharishi identifies dharma with “nature,” “cosmic life,” and “existence.”Dharma is thus to be found everywhere in creation, as an essen-105