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III c. Uparamaḥ – Being established in one’s own dharma

उपरमः कः ?
स्वधर्मानुष्ठानमेव ।

uparamaḥ kah? svadharmānuṣṭhānameva 

The third of the sixfold inner wealth qualities of a seeker is uparamaḥ, which refers to withdrawal of the mind. It is defined as observance or practice of one’s dharma alone. 

Dharma refers to our duty, at a high level. At a deeper level, it refers to that which upholds, supports and integrates, and that which leads to overall prosperity and liberation.

There are four types of dharma:

1. Sādhāraṇa dharma: Dharma that is applicable to everyone
2. Viśeṣa dharma: Dharma that is specific to an individual
3. Asādhāraṇa dharma: Dharma that follows from someone’s unique strengths
4. Āpat dharma: Dharma during an emergency situation

Sādhāraṇa dharma consists of the following 10 qualities that everyone can cultivate, regardless of their stage of life or background.

1. Dhṛti (fortitude)
2. Kṣamā (forgiveness)
3. Dama (control of  senses)
4. Asteya (non-stealing)
5. Śaucam  (cleanliness)
6. Indriyanigraha (control of mind )
7. Dhī (intelligence)
8. Vidyā (knowledge),
9. Satyam (truthfulness)
10. Akrodha (absence of anger)

Viśeṣa dharma, dharma that is specific to an individual. It refers to 3 aspects: life stage, aptitude and role.

1. There are four āśramas or stages of life: 
   • Brahmacaryāśrama or student life: Focus on learning and discipline
   • Gṛhasthāśrama or household life: Focus on earning, supporting the family and community, and thinning of ego by increasing the sphere of one’s identification
   • Vānaprasthāśrama or retirement: Start to turn inward and spend more time in contemplation
   • Sannyāsāśrama or renunciation: Spend maximum time in contemplation
2. Aptitude is broadly categorized into four groups: Thinkers, Administrators, Wealth creators and workers
3. Role: Each person is given a role to play in their day, most notable in our jobs. 

Viśeṣa dharma makes us focus our activities with regards to our stage of life, aptitude and role. Going against this creates problems. For example, someone who has an aptitude for sports will find it difficult to become an engineer. Someone who is in an HR role will struggle to play a role in the finance department. Remembering that we are a seeker first, then other roles such as mother/father etc., is a simple way to prioritize the multiple roles we take on daily.

Asādhāraṇa dharma refers to one’s specific strengths. If someone has a high degree of physical strength, it is incumbent on them to use that strength to help others in need, for instance, older people. Similarly if someone has a high capacity to produce wealth, it is incumbent upon them to use that wealth to benefit the community.

Āpat dharma refers to duties during an emergency situation where the typical duties are temporarily changed. For instance, though anesthesia is a must during a surgical procedure in a hospital, there may be situations like war where surgery may have to be performed without it.

Therefore, Uparamaḥ is observance or practice of one’s dharma alone. As we practice this quality, we slowly reduce our fascination towards the world and begin to go inward. The highest form of uparamaḥ is to revel in our true nature, the Self, Saccidānanda.