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## The Ten Aspects of Right Conduct (Samyak Dharma)
**Chapter Four, Light of Yoga, Verse 93**
The text *Yoga Shastra* (Chapter Four, Light of Yoga, Verse 93) criticizes anger in indirect ways, but doesn't speak about it directly. This is good. If someone is angry directly, one should say, "This person is so good that they only express their anger through words and don't physically harm me." If they hit, one should say, "This good person only hits and doesn't take my life." If someone is about to kill, one should say, "They are only taking my life, they are not corrupting me from my Dharma." In this way, one should find benefit in the absence of harm and consider the nature of a child. When the karmas one has committed come to fruition, such contemplation leads to forgiveness. This is how the fruits of past karmas manifest. The karmas cannot be destroyed without experiencing their fruits or performing austerities. In the inevitable experience of karmic fruits, others are merely instruments. It is said, "All beings experience the fruits of their past karmas, others are merely instruments in committing offenses or doing good deeds." One should contemplate this way during the time of experiencing the fruits of one's own karmas. Contemplating the qualities of forgiveness brings forth the virtue of forgiveness. By cultivating forgiveness, even when provoked, anger does not arise. There is a firm resolve for good thoughts, supreme samadhi arises, there is permanent joy within, one does not try to find weapons to kill, there is no outburst, the face radiates joy, the eyes do not turn red with anger, but the face remains bright, there is no sweating, no trembling, and no desire to harm others. These and other such qualities are obtained by cultivating forgiveness. Forgiveness is the opposite of anger.
**8. Gentleness (Mardava)**
Gentleness means softness, tenderness, humility, and freedom from pride. Gentleness arises from the suppression of ego. Ego manifests in eight forms, such as pride in one's caste, etc., which we have discussed earlier. Therefore, a man blinded by pride in his caste, lineage, strength, beauty, wealth, austerity, beloved, (or wealth) and intelligence (or knowledge) is incapable of seeing what is beneficial for him in this world and the next. (Prashmarati 80) Gentleness is the opposite of pride, which is the root cause of these vices.
**9. Simplicity (Saralata)**
Simplicity means righteousness, unity of mind, speech, and body, or straightforwardness. Simplicity is the absence of crookedness, cunning, and deceitful behavior. A deceitful person does not act according to their words. Therefore, they are a source of doubt for everyone. They are untrustworthy. It is said, "Even though a deceitful person does not commit any offense, due to the fault of their deceitful nature, they are untrustworthy like a serpent to everyone." (Prashmarati 28) Thus, simplicity is the opposite of deceit.
**10. Liberation (Mukti)**
Liberation means freedom from greed, i.e., the severance of both external and internal desires. It is the absence of greed and hope for expectations. A greedy person is strengthened by the group of vices: anger, pride, deceit, violence, falsehood, theft, non-brahma, and attachment. It is said, "Greed is the refuge of destruction and the only highway to all suffering." A greedy person trapped in the clutches of greed experiences new sorrows every moment. (Prashmarati 29) Therefore, liberation is the form of renunciation of greed. It is characterized by selflessness, self-motivation, absence of possessiveness, detachment, not harming others, remaining unaffected by the instruments of restraint like control of the senses, etc.
**Conclusion**
Thus, there are ten aspects of Dharma. There is a doubt here: Truth, restraint, purity, Brahma, non-possession, etc., are included in the great vows, and forgiveness, gentleness, simplicity, and liberation are included in the section on *Sanvara*. Austerity is said to be the cause of *Sanvara* and *Nirjara*. Then, what is the purpose of mentioning these ten Dharmas again in the context of explaining Dharma? This would be a repetition! We resolve this by saying that although there was no need to mention restraint, etc., again here, the ten types of Dharma are explained in a different way because this is the Dharma declared by the Arihant Bhagwan. Therefore, it was necessary to mention it. This is true because it explains the qualities of Dharma and praises the Bhagwan for the sake of comparison. || 93 || Now, we will discuss the effects of Dharma.