Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

absolute principles of societythe basis of all success in life. This is how family dharmas and traditionshelp both the individual and society. (p. 69)What is most significant in this analysis is the criteria by which theideal structures of society are to be measured: their ability to supportthe growth to higher states of consciousness of their citizenry. HereMaharishi indicates the effect of family dharmas is in two directions.First, they prevent exhaustion, and the stress on body and mind thatit produces. Psychophysiological stress of this kind, Maharishi (1972)emphasizes, is the main impediment to the natural enjoyment of higherstates of consciousness (pp. 2-3). Second, they bring the highest level ofefficiency to one’s work, thus allowing establishment of the proper balanceof life, with its priority in the development of consciousness (“timeto be regular in their practice for spiritual unfoldment”). Ideal socialstructures are thus shown to be rooted in the practical and balanceddaily routine through which life is raised to enlightenment.Each individual in the society, therefore, Maharishi (1967) teaches,has a particular dharma, a particular path of action within a tradition,that is most conducive for his or her evolution. This principle is referredto later in the Bhagavad-Gītā (p. 191) by the following injunction:inyt' k¨ kmR Tvm9Niyataԣ kuru karma twam(Bhagavad-GԂtԀ, 3.8)Do your allotted duty.Here the adjective “niyataԣ,” which Maharishi translates as “allotted,”derives from the root “yam,” to sustain, hold up, support. As wehave seen, Maharishi’s principal definition of dharma centers on thatwhich upholds, maintains, and supports life (1967, p. 26). Hence thataction (karma) which is allotted (niyatam) is action according to dharma.Maharishi defines allotted duty as activity which is natural for theindividual which effectivity promotes his evolution. He emphasizes thedamaging effects on mind and body of engaging in action that is not inaccord with one’s dharma:113