BBC Radio 4 2016-01-06

Good morning. There are often cases of industrial action that may not affect us personally. But, the series of strikes of junior doctors planned to start next week may impact if not ourselves, then perhaps the treatment of someone we know or care for.

The decision by the BMA doctors would not have been taken lightly. I am certain they believe they are balancing their duty of care to their patients with other professional and personal principles that they see as important for the health service in the long-term.

Dharma defines the duties and responsibilities inherent within a profession or social relationship. But, Hinduism recognises that it is rarely simple. Constantly, we’re juggling conflicting obligations of dharmas that seem equally important to us. It may be how we might balance work and family. Or, perhaps, who we might spend precious time with.

A story from one Hindu text coincidently illustrates a conflict of dharma from a doctor’s perspective – though in very different circumstances. In the middle of battle, King Rama’s warrior brother was mortally injured. Without informing Rama, his minister kidnapped the enemy’s chief physician. The doctor protested to Rama that he had been brought under duress and, as he was loyal to his own king, why would he be trusted with the care of Rama’s brother? Rama replied: you can leave, or you can stay and treat my brother or you can kill him, if you like. It’s your choice. But, I trust you will value your dharma as a healer of someone in need above your concerns for politics and warfare.

There are no hard and fast rules to dharma. Hindu texts say that balancing our obligations requires decisions that are unique to each individual and must bear in mind the three factors of: time, place and circumstances.

But dharma isn’t just a method of defining moral social behaviour. It’s understood to be the pre-cursor for a life of love. Behaving according to dharma isn’t love – but it’s generally consistent with what you would do if you were acting out of love. The devotional scripture, Srimad Bhagavatam, suggests that dharma evolves into love when the service we offer others springs from our heart – without any selfish agenda. Whereas dharma may vary over time, love is incessant. It doesn’t fade or falter.

It would be fanciful to imagine we could always act out of such elevated loving attitudes whatever our situation – but that’s not realistic. In the meantime, we have dharma – with all its difficult decisions and dilemmas - to guide us on the path towards love.