Questioner: What is swa-dharma? The Vaishnav religion tells us to remain in swa-dharma and not to go to par-dharma.
Dadashri: Our people have not understood the word swa-dharma at all. They think swa-dharma is the Vaishnav religion and par-dharma is all other religions such as Shivism, Jainism etc. Lord Krishna said, “Par-dharma bhayavaha,” People understood this to mean, ‘There is danger in practicing any religion other than the Vaishnav religion’. All the other religions too say that par-dharma means there is danger in other religions, but no one understands the true meaning of swa-dharma or par-dharma. Par-dharma means dharma of the  non-self, the body complex, prakruti, and swa-dharma is the dharma of the Self. Washing and bathing the body, making it fast etc., are all religions of the body; it is par-dharma. There is no swa-dharma in that.  The Self is your natural state (swarup). Lord Krishna had said, “The religion of the Self is swa-dharma and any other activities such as fasting or penance are activities of the non-self. There is nothing of the Self in them.”
Swa-dharma can only be practiced when one understands and recognizes that one’s Self within, is Krishna. A true Vaishnav is the one who recognizes the Lord Krishna within. Today there is no one who has become a true Vaishnav. Not even according to the definition, “Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je piid parayii jane re (a true Vaishnav is the one who knows the suffering of others”
These Vaishnavs say, “We practice Lord Krishna’s religion,” but Lord Krishna tells ‘us’, “None of them is my true devotee. They do not follow my agna (special command) even for a day; not even for an hour.”