A law unto yourself

The true seeker of excellence is marked by that abiding boldness — a state, where the “mind is without fear”. He is not affected or dissuaded by others’ opinion of him or even by what the vast majority may think about any issue. The only law which binds him is that “which leads to freedom”. While this concept works itself out in practice in innumerable cases, an instance from Ramayanais highly illustrative. Expatiated upon by Swami Viswatma Bawra of Brahmarishi Ashram of Pinjore, this involves Baratha, younger brother of Rama. Advised and exhorted by his own gurus and by Rama himself to accepting coronation, Baratha decides otherwise. Though he does listen to and considers carefully others’ views, he integrates these with the promptings of the evolved self within. Baratha thus proves that he is an atmamukhi. Swami Bawra contrasts this approach with those of other two types of persons. The first of these is the gurumukhi, who goes purely by what his guru tells him.

The second is the manmukhi, who is driven hither and thither by his fickle and capricious mind, which vacillates, unable to establish itself on any decision or stable wisdom. Applied to all of us, being a true atmamukhiis not obstinacy but being established in the art of right action (karmasu koushalam), because this involves considering the evaluation of all points of view — others’ and one’s own too. You would, then, by a natural and scientific process, do what is right and do that only. You would thus, by being a true atmamukhi, be also a law unto yourself, in the right sense of the term!