The Nature of Dharma and Adharma
Continuing his elaborate teachings to Vidura, Maitreya explained that one of the most essential understandings for anyone seeking to live wisely and develop spiritually is a clear comprehension of the fundamental distinction between dharma and adharma—between righteous principles and principles opposed to righteousness. These are not merely human moral concepts but are cosmic principles reflecting the fundamental nature of reality and the laws governing consciousness development. Dharma is that which creates order, promotes spiritual development, and aligns individual consciousness with cosmic principles. Adharma is that which creates chaos, obstructs spiritual development, and misaligns consciousness with cosmic principles.
Maitreya explained that dharma is not a fixed set of rules that never changes but rather is a flexible principle that adapts to the particular time, place, and circumstances while maintaining underlying consistency with eternal truth. What constitutes righteous conduct might differ substantially between different ages, different cultures, and different individual situations, yet all righteous conduct shares the characteristic of being truthful, of promoting welfare of all beings, and of being ultimately aligned with the Supreme Lord's purposes. Conversely, adharma also manifests in different forms in different circumstances but always has the characteristic of being dishonest, of causing harm to beings, and of being opposed to the Supreme Lord's will and cosmic principles.
One of the most important teachings is that dharma is ultimately rewarded by the cosmic forces and by the laws of karma, while adharma inevitably produces destructive consequences. Though sometimes it may appear that dishonest and immoral people prosper in the short term while righteous people suffer, this appearance is illusory and temporary. The cosmic administrator ensures that ultimately all actions produce appropriate consequences that must be experienced either in the current life or in future lives. No being, regardless of their material power or cleverness, can ultimately escape the laws of karma. Therefore, the wisest course for any being is to align themselves with dharma and to conduct all their activities according to righteous principles, knowing that this alignment ultimately leads to prosperity, peace, and spiritual fulfillment.
Maitreya also taught that dharma operates at multiple levels. There is individual dharma—the righteous principles that guide the conduct of individual beings according to their nature and position. There is family dharma—the righteous principles governing relationships and duties within family structures. There is social dharma—the righteous principles organizing society and governance. There is cosmic dharma—the universal principles that govern all existence. All of these levels are interconnected, and genuine spiritual development requires alignment at all these levels. When an individual practices personal dharma in harmony with their family's welfare and society's well-being, and in alignment with universal cosmic principles, they create a coherent foundation for genuine advancement.
This chapter emphasizes the importance of developing clarity about what constitutes dharma and adharma and cultivating the courage and commitment to follow dharmic principles even when doing so is difficult or requires sacrifice. Maitreya taught that this clarity and commitment are absolutely essential for anyone genuinely seeking spiritual advancement, because the path to the Supreme Lord fundamentally consists of progressively aligning all aspects of one's life with dharmic principles and moving away from adharmic practices. The great kings described in the Canto achieved their extraordinary accomplishments and spiritual realizations because they maintained unwavering commitment to dharma regardless of temporary difficulties or setbacks that appeared to result from their righteous choices.