Just do it - Chapter 14

उपरमः कः ?

स्वधर्मानुष्ठानमेव ।

What is uparama (उपरम)? It is the strict observance of one’s own duty.

Uparama (उपरम) is translated as withdrawal. The control of the mind and sense organs which was achieved through wilful restraint in sama (शम) and dama (दम) is achieved automatically in uparama (उपरम) where the mind withdraws naturally without any conscious effort.

Adi Sankara defines uparama (उपरम) as observance of one’s own duty. Actions or karma (कर्म) according to scriptures is of 4 types.

a)    Vihita karma (विहित कर्म) – these are actions that are prescribed by the scriptures and are to be done without fail. In Vedic times, one had duties assigned based on one’s varna (वर्ण) and ashrama (आश्रम) and uparama (उपरम) was performing these duties. In today’s times, we can understand uparama (उपरम) as doing what needs to be done in every situation without letting one’s likes and dislikes determine our actions.

b)    Kamya karma (काम्य कर्म)– these are actions performed for sensory gratification and are brought about by our desires. Scriptures are indifferent to kamya karma (काम्य कर्म) and neither approve nor censure them and as long as these are performed staying within the confines of dharma (धर्म) they are condoned. Relishing delicious food and appreciating good music can be considered as kamya karma (काम्य कर्म). These are actions driven by one's desire and so there would be attachment, and both the action and the outcome of the action would result in strong positive or negative reactions.

c)     Nishidha karma (निषिद्ध कर्म) – these are actions that are prohibited by the scriptures and are sinful in nature and should be avoided. Indulgence in these would rescind the subtlety of the mind and render it incapable of spiritual pursuit.

d)    Prayaschitha karma (प्रायश्च्चित्थ कर्म) – these are actions that are prescribed for atonement of sins.

Uparama is doing more of vihita karma (विहित कर्म), minimizing kamya karma (काम्य कर्म), strict avoidance of nishidha karma (निषिद्ध कर्म) and not having the need for any prayaschitha karma (प्रायश्च्चित्थ कर्म).

Going by the scriptural injunctions while choosing one’s actions is a way of weakening the role of one’s likes and dislikes by giving them lesser and lesser importance. We had seen previously how our likes and dislikes superimpose subjective value on objects, people and situations and obstruct our ability to discriminate. Our likes and dislikes get strengthened when we keep letting them have their way and merely by doing what needs to be done in every situation one can eventually attain freedom from all of one’s likes and dislikes. Understanding the significance of uparama (उपरम) thus will ensure that one is not hung up on relegating one’s free will or on the validity of the scriptures and sees the importance of uparama (उपरम) in the study of Vedanta.