Dharma, Karma, and Guna: Examining Their Impact on Actions & Ethics

This essay delves into the profound concepts of dharma, karma, and guna as elucidated in the Bhagavad Gita, exploring their intricate relationship and their influence on human actions and moral responsibility. Dharma is presented as the ethical force guiding cosmic order, while karma embodies the actions performed by individuals, and guna represents the inherent qualities that shape their behavior. The essay elucidates how these three concepts intertwine to determine the actions of individuals, influencing their moral compass and shaping their understanding of moral responsibility. It further explores Lord Krishna's teachings on navigating moral dilemmas and the importance of fulfilling one's dharma with dedication, ultimately emphasizing the interconnectedness of actions, consequences, and inherent qualities in shaping a meaningful and ethical life. Desklib offers a wealth of resources for students seeking to explore these complex philosophical concepts further.

Running head: DHARMA, KARMA AND GUNA DETERMINE ACTION
DHARMA, KARMA AND GUNA DETERMINE ACTION
Name of the student
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DHARMA, KARMA AND GUNA DETERMINE ACTION
Introduction
The holy book of the Hindus, the Bhagavad Gitahas elaborately defined the concepts of
dharma, karma and guna. According to the Gita, dharma refers to the actions and behaviors
demonstrated by individuals that are in accordance with the cosmic order (Bbc.co.uk, 2018).
Karma, on the other hand, is defined as the actions and behaviors performed by individuals.
Guna is the virtue or merit possessed by individuals that reflect on their dharma and karma.
The essay aims to explain the concept of dharma, karma and guna and the way these
determine action. Further, the essay attempts to explain the implications of these on moral
responsibility. In doing so, the essay will discuss Lord Krishna’s explanation on the way people
go wrong epistemologically and morally.
Discussion
In details, dharma is the ethical force that instructs the universe; the power that maintains
the world’s motion and disciplines the society. However, it is up to the humans to fulfill their
part of the job or dharma to let the world operate smoothly. People mostly associate dharma
with the religion or faith they follow in today’s world although the exact meaning of dharma is
difficult to explain. In the Gita, Lord Krishna provides a deeper meaning of the term while he
makes Arjuna understand the need to fight in the battle at Kurukshetra. Krishna tells Arjuna that
his main dharma is to fight the battle and be a warrior and cannot escape it. The main premise of
Krishna’s concept of dharma is that whatever role one fulfills at one moment, is the dharma at
that moment. In simple words, dharma is the job one has to do at the specific moment it is given
to them.

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DHARMA, KARMA AND GUNA DETERMINE ACTION
Dharma thus, helps in determining action of individuals. The general duty of an
individual is to carry out her or his responsibilities given to her or him since birth throughout life.
The individual has to perform different roles in life. However, the individual often comes across
situations that require her or him to give up her or his personal duties or dharma for a greater
cause. To cite an example, an employee is running late for office and comes across a situation
where he or she sees a person in pain and urgent need for attention. The employee’s personal
dharma is to reach office on time and do her or his job but his dharma as a human being is to
help first another human being (Muniapan & Satpathy, 2013). Here, the employee faces the
dilemma of whether to perform the personal dharma or the universal dharma as a human being.
The term karma, similar to dharma, has different connotations. On one hand, it means the
actions or behaviors performed by individuals generally while on the other, it refers to the
consequences of actions. Karma is interrelated to dharma, as explained in the Bhagavad Gita by
Lord Krishna. He explains that karma and dharma work together in an individual’s life (Davis,
2014). The individual’s karma is the result of her or his dharma or duty that he or she has
performed in the present life as well as in the past life. The good deeds result in good life while
bad deeds result in a life full of sufferings, as per the concept of karma (Marques, 2013). When
one performs her or his duties or dharma with commitment and dedication, she or he is said to
have practiced the true essence of karma. Lord Krishna for example, had performed his dharma
of reestablishing truth and justice in the world and thus fulfilled his karma. Krishna believed in
karma yoga, which refers to doing one’s work with dedication without expecting any fruits in
return. This, says Krishna, is also the true realization of dharma.
The actions or behaviors – karma – that individuals do in their life influence the universe
as well. It is therefore, important for them to act and behave carefully with good intentions and

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for other’s wellbeing as well so that their karma in the present and the next life is filled with
positivity.
As per the Gita, matter and spirit are the two things that make up the human being. The
matter is made up of three different hues that are referred to as gunas or qualities. Guna
therefore, refers to the qualities that human beings demonstrate in different situations. According
to Krishna, human beings possess three primary gunas – sattva or purity, rajas or passion and
tamas or ignorance (Ithamar, 2016). These gunas determine the actions of a person apart from
the thoughts and emotions. When one has sattva in one’s action, the mind reaches a state of
calmness and the soul feels the satisfaction. When one carries out his or her dharma with
passion, the resulting state of mind is that of turbulence. Indulging in works that are driven by
incessant desire, greed and lust makes the mind mediocre and devoid of true satisfaction
(Ithamar, 2016). Tamas or ignorance obstructs the good qualities in the human beings that
ultimately prevent the inherent individual talent from coming to the fore.
These gunas determine the kind of action one does and these determine the kind of
person one turns out to be in life. These gunas make individuals different from each other (Singh
et al., 2013). Each individual, says the Gita, has all the three gunas and when one understands
their roles in life, they are able to change the mix within their own life (Robinson, 2014). For
example, an individual might have sattva as the supreme quality but utilizing the rajas at the
right situations and suppressing the tamas would make her or him lead life with content. It would
also mean that the individual would have a better life ahead due to his or her good karma, which
he or she attained through utilizing these gunas.

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DHARMA, KARMA AND GUNA DETERMINE ACTION
Prior to discussing the implications of dharma, karma and guna on moral responsibility,
it is important to assert that moral responsibility itself is a debated concept. Experts around the
globe are yet to find a concrete answer to the question as to what constitutes a morally
responsible action. Many opine that moral responsibility is the duty individuals do that is in
accordance with the moral principles. Moral principles however, are defined vaguely as these
differ from one culture to another. While one culture might consider looking after parents in old
age as a moral duty, others might not feel the same.
Nonetheless, some responsibilities are universal like protecting the nature and
environment. The concepts of dharma, karma and guna help explain the actions that relate to
moral responsibility. As per the definition in the Gita, dharma relates to the moral values of life
or the righteous deed performed by an individual. The other two concepts of karma and guna are
related to the central theme of dharma and hence, have implications on moral responsibility as
well. When individuals are aware of their dharma, they perform the karma by mixing their gunas
in the right proportion and are able to complete their moral responsibility.
Conclusion
The Bhagavad Gita has abundant explanations of the dharma, karma and guna with
which one could easily understand the reasons behind the actions of some individuals. The
knowledge of these concepts help individuals has a deeper insight into other’s actions. The essay
has attempted to explain the three concepts first and then discuss the way these determine action.
Further, it was found from the discussion that the theory described in the Gita provides thorough
explanation of the actions people do and the consequences of those actions as well. However,
further research is suggested, as the research was limited due to limited space and time.

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References:
Bbc.co.uk. (2018). BBC - Religions - Hinduism: Hindu concepts. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/concepts/concepts_1.shtml
Davis, R. H. (2014). The" Bhagavad Gita": A Biography. Princeton University Press.
F. Marques, J. (2013). Karma: be mindful of your actions. Development and Learning in
Organizations, 28(1), 2-4.
Ithamar, T. (2016). Exploring the Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy, Structure and Meaning.
Routledge.
Muniapan, B., & Satpathy, B. (2013). The ‘Dharma’and ‘Karma’of CSR from the Bhagavad-
Gita. Journal of Human Values, 19(2), 173-187.
Robinson, C. A. (2014). Interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita and images of the Hindu
Tradition: The song of the lord. Routledge.
Singh, K., Jain, A., Kaur, J., Junnarkar, M., & Slezackova, A. (2016). Cross-cultural differences
on Gunas and other well-being dimensions. Asian journal of psychiatry, 24, 139-146.