Living Your Truth: Understanding Dharm as a Spiritual Practice -Abhisshek Om Chakravarty | Holistic Life Coach & Mindfulness Mentor

When I first heard the term Dharm as a kid, I was instructed that it means duty. Do your duty to your parents, your education, your work—this was the prevailing notion around me. But over time, particularly in my inner journey and in guiding others through their own dilemmas, I began to realize Dharm not as an external expectation but as an internal guide. Dharm is not a job description, a position, or a box to check. It is a calling we have to our own truth. It is the profound alignment with the calling of our soul, the thing to do, not because society dictates it, but because your heart knows it's the right thing.

I recall this vividly from my coaching with Rajnish. When he first approached me, he was trapped in a cycle of overthinking and guilt. Intelligent student, obedient son, and responsible brother—but somewhere, he had lost his own voice. His choices were made considering what would please others. He had a dream to be a filmmaker, but he opted for engineering because that's what "good boys" do. That's what his family wanted. He agreed to a life that was safe but not real. And gradually, that deep silence of self-betrayal became a roar.

During one of our sessions, I posed a straightforward question to him: "What makes you most alive?" He sat there in silence for a minute. And then, his eyes brimming with tears, he whispered, "When I share stories." That was a turning point for him. For in that whisper lay his Dharm. His truth. Something he had been neglecting all these years behind the mask of responsibilities, fears, and expectations.

This is what I wish to convey through this blog. That Dharm isn't about executing someone else's dream perfectly. It's living your own truth with authenticity. Even if it's messy. Even if it's unclear. The minute you begin walking toward your truth, life starts adjusting in a bizarre but gorgeous way. You become lighter, freer. Your choices feel true. And even when difficulties arise, you have an inner anchor that keeps you grounded.

And in contemporary life, the concept of Dharm usually gets engulfed under deadlines, social media comparisons, and the pressure to "prove" ourselves. We assume success is our Dharm. Or making our family proud is our Dharm. But the fact is, your Dharm is personal. It is not bestowed upon you by the world. It is shown through your longings, discomforts, deep love, and experiences. The work that triggers you, the work that gets you excited, the moments when you are fully present—these are the hints. Being on your Dharm is not an event; it is a daily practice of being honest with yourself.

I've seen individuals discover their Dharm in most unplanned circumstances. I had one client, a woman in her 40s, who came to me in the midst of an ugly divorce. She had lived for twenty years as the perfect wife and mother but had no clue who she was outside of those identities. Through our time together, we unraveled her childhood aspirations, her hidden gifts, and her hurt. Gradually, she remembered how much she loved teaching children. Not only intellectually, but emotionally, spiritually. She now operates a small alternative school integrating story, meditation, and play. She told me once, "I don't know how much I make compared to others, but every night I sleep in peace." That is the strength of living your Dharm.

Dharm is not just work. It appears in relationships as well. To be true in a relationship is not to pretend love when your heart is numb. You don't remain quiet when your soul cries out. It doesn't indicate that you harm others, but it does mean you stop hurting yourself. I always say—your first Dharm is to your own self-respect. I've encountered people who remained in abusive marriages or friendships out of guilt or fear. But when they began to listen to their inner voice, they had the courage to walk away or set new boundaries. And gradually, their relationships began to reflect that inner truth.

In the workplace, Dharm is present when your actions are in harmony with your values. I have a client who worked in an advertising agency selling products he did not believe in. He used to drag himself to the office every morning. He wasn't failing in his work, but he was diminishing spiritually. When I asked him about his values, he told me he desired to empower people using communication, rather than manipulate them. He later transitioned to working with wellness businesses. He told me it felt like taking a breath of fresh air after decades. That's what occurs when you connect your work with your truth.

Dharm is necessary even in personal growth. I often ask my clients: Are you growing because you want to prove something, or because you want to live more authentically? Many people chase growth for validation. But actual growth is about becoming more of who you already are, not becoming someone else. I have personally faced this. There was a point when I thought I had to speak in a particular tone, write in a certain style, just so I could be "professional." But it felt like wearing someone else's clothes. Now, I speak from my own voice, from my origins, and that has been the difference-maker. Dharm brings you home to yourself.

Simple ways to get in touch with your inner Dharm. You don't require a grand plan or spiritual retreat. Simply begin listening. Sit quietly for ten minutes a day and ask, "What is my truth today?" Write it down. Pay attention to when your body relaxes or tenses. Pay attention to what types of people or activities drain you and what types energize you. These are all indications. Your Dharm is not concealed. It's only that we are usually too busy or afraid to hear.

But when you do, something changes.

One potent habit I use regularly is the "Breath Pause." Simply stop in the middle of your day and take three deep breaths. And then ask yourself: "Am I being true right now?" You don't have to do anything differently at that moment. But the awareness will increase. And once awareness increases, action follows naturally. You begin saying no to what's not true and yes to what feels right. That's the start of living your Dharm.

Sanatan Dharm also educates us on the fact that everything is linked. Your personal truth is never distinct from the universal order. When you lead your Dharm, you bring harmony to the world. You become like a river flowing effortlessly, enriching everything along its path. However, when you act against your truth, you become stagnant, frustrated, or even sick. Our inner self resists falsity, irrespective of how beautiful it appears externally.

This is why I think Dharm is not only a moral ideal. It is a spiritual path. Similar to meditation or prayer, doing your Dharm takes awareness, courage, and compassion. It means to listen deeply, decide wisely, and act with integrity. It's not about being perfect. It's about being real. I recall distinctly one late night, having just worked with a teenager who was grappling with identity, I went out for a walk. The moon was full, the air was crisp, and something occurred to me like a gentle whisper from within: "Your Dharm is to remind people of their light." It moved me to tears. Not because it was beautiful, but because it was true. And in that instant, I was at peace. That's what I want for you.

That peace that results not from outer success but from inner alignment. So, if you're reading this and asking yourself, "What is my Dharm?"—don't hurry. Just start by being truthful with yourself. What gets you feeling most alive? What have you been neglecting for too long? What do you love so much that you'd do it even without applause? Your answers will come. Your truth will reveal itself. And when it does, walk with it.

Even if the world doesn't understand, because the most beautiful life is not the one that pleases others, but the one that reflects your soul. Undefined. That is the essence of Dharm. That is the path of living your truth.

Om poornamadah Poornamidam |

Poornaat Poornamudachyate |

Poornasya Poornamaadaya |

Poornamevaavashishyate |

Om shanti, shanti, shanti hi ||

Hari Om Tatsat!

Warm regards,

Abhisshek Om Chakravarty, (Coach Abhisshek)

Holistic Life Coach | Mindfulness Mentor | Family Mindset Coach 

"Within each soul lies infinite wisdom; I simply help others uncover their light."

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