A group I belong to had an interesting discussion on "Dharma." I couldn't believe how many different dictionary definitions we all came up with. I, myself, checked three sources looking for guidance on a word whose meaning I didn't yet understand.
In a nutshell, I discovered that "dharma" represents the principles on which the universe functions -- the natural laws that govern all of life, including yours and mine. Dharma was also defined as "right behavior," as outlined in religious or moral paths such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
It stands to reason that "right behavior" must ultimately follow the Universal Laws of life. Even the antics of our own free will cannot alter natural law.
In business, for example, the dishonest marketer has to work twice as hard because he literally repels repeat customers. The Law of Cause and Effect sees to that.
The business owner who feels strongly about the worth of his products and who desires to serve to the highest of his capability - and can communicate this - will attract customers who are likely to remain loyal over time. His higher-placed intentions are more likely to bring to him a higher quality of clients, according to the Law of Attraction.
The Law of Correspondence is the one that describes best how individual and cosmic dharma work. Each component within a system retains its own characteristics and also takes on the characteristics of the system as a total sum of its parts, says the Law.
Each one of us has our own "beingness" or essence, which determines our consciousness. Our personal consciousness determines the nature of our dealings with customers, and the development of our business success. But we are each also connected with everything that exists. Physics has proved this by now, surely. So, what occurs elsewhere affects us... and what we do affects everything else.
Knowing that everything you do affects everything else in the universe, how would you choose to conduct your business? What additional level of responsibility does this place on you to: (a) make sure your products are the highest quality; (b) provide consistently impeccable service; (c) reach all the people who need you?
If each of us were to make a conscious choice to enrich the world with every business transaction, imagine the positive effect this would have - not only on our customers - but on all of creation.
Millions of us have agreed (at some level) to do just this - to enrich the world. And our business is the vehicle through which we've chosen to reach people. It behooves us, then, to become as knowledgeable as we can about marketing - about effectively communicating with the people we desire to help.
I figure we're all on Team Universe. As we become more familiar with the rules of the game, our lives and work become more meaningful and enjoyable. And our "right behavior" -- getting in step with our dharma -- puts us on the scoreboards of both Profit and Enlightenment.
Go Team!
Copyright 2003 Barbara Casey
