One day, an aspirant went to Veda Vyasa and said, “O Maharishi, I am in a dilemma. I cannot properly comprehend the right significance of the term dharma. Some say it is right conduct. Others say that which leads to moksha and happiness is dharma. Anything, any action that brings one down is adharma. I am bewildered. Kindly give me an easy definition of dharma to enable me to follow dharma in all my actions.” Maharishi Vyasa replied, “O aspirant! Hear me. I shall suggest an easy method. Always remember the following sayings with great care when you perform any action: ‘Do as you would be done by. Do unto others as you wish others to do unto you.’ This is the whole of dharma. Attend to this carefully. You will be saved from all troubles. If you follow these wise maxims, you can never give any pain to others. Practise this in your daily life. Even if you fail one hundred times, it does not matter. Persevere and you will succeed in the attainment of the goal.” This is a good maxim. The whole gist is here. If one practises this carefully one will not commit any wrong act.
Spiritual life is not a light matter. The aspirant should always regard himself as a beginner, just commencing a sadhana. Self-realization and dharma, or righteousness, are inseparable. A person evolves through the practice of dharma according to the situation in life, and eventually attains self realization, the ultimate goal. Sadachara or right conduct is the foundation of yoga. Yoga is rooted in virtue. One should be well established in sadachara right from the beginning of one’s spiritual life. Right conduct is superior to all branches of knowledge and the root of all prosperity. It is conduct that begets virtue, and it is virtue that prolongs life.
A person of right conduct has ideals, principles and mottoes. He strictly follows them, removes his weaknesses and defects, develops good conduct and becomes a sattwic individual. He is careful in behaving with his elders, parents, teachers, acharyas, sisters, brothers, friends, relatives and strangers. He attempts to know what is right and wrong, by approaching the wise and the saintly and studying the scriptures carefully, and then treads the path of dharma.