Rules Of Dharma
All those, who have reached great heights in life, have achieved them by climbing step by step. They never forget or ignore the steps afterwards. Today, many persons who have attained high position in Dharma, Jnan, Yoga and Bhakti not infrequently think themselves exempt from the observance of rules of Dharma. Many ignore or connive at the rules. Many consider themselves as fire (Agni) into which no evil can ever penetrate or live.
Lord Swaminarayan ordered a halt for all such persons. He said it is by strict adherence to the rules of Dharma only, that men can rise to divine heights and it is also by observance of rules of Dharrna that a man can maintain the high position he has achieved. A man treading on the divine path, should always be alert against evil things. Non-observance of rules of Dharma or conniving at them by good people reflects adversely on the minds of common man. They would feel that the learned persons do not practice what they preach. These feelings result in creating and nourishing hypocrisy in life.
Lord Swaminarayan, therefore, ordered all His followers, those highly placed in life and those standing low in the ladder of the Sampraday always to follow with love and caution all the dictates of Dharma. Only those who were physically incapable to attend to daily functions of their body themselves were allowed to act as best as they could. But for others, He did not make any exemption. Lord Swaminarayan explained that by the word Dharma, He meant Swadharma and Sadharma both. All, therefore, should follow the rules of Swadharma and Sadharma in life.