Dharma vs Jungle law

Dharmo Rakshito Rakshitaha.

If you protect Dharma, Dharma will protect you.

Nature's default law is Matsya Nyaya. Big fish eats little fish. Also known as Jungle law, where the strong will survive & the weak will perish. The young are ruthlessly hunted.

Humans inherently dislike Matsya Nyaya for the human society. Owing to compassion, we seek to protect the weak & the poor as well. This allows civilization to thrive, by allowing humans to think higher thoughts, philosophy & create beautiful art. This is only possible when survival & safety is guaranteed even if we are weak.

The alternative is a system where everyone, including the powerful rulers, voluntarily subject themselves to common rules governing all. This is one aspect of Dharma. In some Dharmic systems, the powerful subject themselves to even harsher rules.

When not restrained by Dharma, the powerful will prefer a Matsya Nyaya system. The powerful can get away using political & legal loopholes, hiring media, writing propaganda to influence public opinion, hiring top lawyers & assassinating witnesses or dissidents.

There are other systems such as Marxism which, on the surface, look like Dharma, since it professes compassion for the weak, hence the appeal. However, it is a Matsya Nyaya system in disguise, which will end up in Communist dictatorships with special privileges for the party members, ruthlessly suppressing dissent with Kulaks & concentration camps. Religious systems that 'compassionately' seek to save others from a fiery hell after death also end up as Matsya Nyaya systems.

All human societies throughout history will swing between a Matsya Nyaya & Dharma system, ending up somewhere in-between. This conflict is eternal.

It is up to all of us to do whatever little we can to setup a Dharmic system, to protect us all. This is an unfortunately an eternal constant task. No one can do it for us; we all have to do our bit. Else, we will see unpleasant Matsya Nyaya in action.

The price of freedom & civilization is constant vigilance, for there are always barbarians at the gates. Dharmo Rakshito Rakshitaha.