Dharma (religious concept)
Dharma is a central concept in the Eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism, derived from the ancient Sanskrit language of India. It broadly encompasses the idea of "the way things are" or "what is established," making it a complex term with multiple interpretations. In Hinduism, dharma serves as a guide for morality and virtue, emphasizing the importance of performing one's duties according to their societal role, which is illustrated in sacred texts like the Mahabharata. Individuals possess a unique form of dharma, known as sva-dharma, which reflects personal responsibilities shaped by social status and life circumstances.
In Buddhism, dharma (with a capital D) refers specifically to the teachings of the Buddha, focusing on the path to enlightenment through practices that lead to understanding and overcoming suffering. The concept also embodies a cosmic law of nature, with various meanings ranging from the fundamental principles guiding existence to the ultimate goal of achieving Nirvana. Overall, dharma is seen as both an individual and universal principle that influences ethical behavior and contributes to the well-being of society, fostering a sense of duty and virtue across diverse cultural contexts.
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Dharma (religious concept)
Dharma is a fundamental concept in the Eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The word derives from India’s ancient Sanskrit language and means "the way things are" or "what is established," although a literal translation to English is difficult. The term has many different meanings. In Buddhism, Dharma—with a capital D—refers to the teachings of the Buddha, the historical figure who founded Buddhism. The most common meaning of dharma is "the law of nature" or "that which sustains the universe." In Hinduism this is interpreted as a guide for morality, virtue, or the "right way of living." Buddhists have a similar ideal of this form of dharma, seeing it as cosmic law of virtue and a fundamental principle of righteousness. According to the Pew Research Center, Hindus number about 1 billion worldwide and make up about 15 percent of the world’s religions. Buddhism has about 488 million adherents and comprises 7 percent of the world’s religions.
History
The earliest mention of the term dharma is in the Rigveda, a sacred Hindu text written in about 1500 BCE. Hinduism is considered the oldest surviving religion in the world, with roots in the prehistoric societies of India from about 1700 BCE. In India, Hinduism is traditionally called the Eternal Religion, or sanatana dharma. The earliest references to dharma imply that only Hindu sages, those who attain great wisdom, could experience dharma. The average person could realize it only with the help of these sages through mantras and other meditation. Later interpretations see dharma in various aspects, many with differing meanings. One common incarnation represents dharma as a person’s lawful responsibility to perform certain duties according to his or her rank in society. This ideal was illustrated in an ancient Hindu poem called the Mahabharata, written in about the fourth century BCE. In the poem, Krishna, the supreme deity of Hinduism, explains the path to righteousness and lawful world order. To achieve salvation, he says, everyone must follow three paths: yoga or aesthetic endeavors, devotion, and dharma—activities suited toward a person’s role in life. Of these, dharma is considered most important because it helps both the individual and society.
As in Hinduism, the role of dharma in Buddhism has multiple meanings. Buddhism was founded in the sixth century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama. According to tradition, Gautama was born into wealth but came to achieve spiritual peace when he realized that true happiness was not found in the material world but through a journey of self-discovery. His followers named him Buddha, or "Enlightened One." Buddha’s teachings often are called the Dharma. Chief among these teachings were the Four Noble Truths:
All impermanent objects in creation are subject to suffering.
Suffering comes from our ignorance and desire to hold onto this impermanence.
There is an end to this suffering that can be achieved by attaining knowledge of the ultimate reality.
By following a path of good behavior, discipline, consideration, and meditation, a person can achieve this ultimate peace, or Nirvana.
Over time many forms of Buddhism evolved, as did the concept of dharma. While it remained a term for Buddha’s teachings, it began to refer not only to his doctrine but also to an understanding of that doctrine. It also took on a broader meaning, referring to creation as a whole or to the fundamental goal of enlightenment.
Overview
With so many different meanings, dharma is difficult to confine to a simple explanation. In Hindu philosophy, dharma is the driving force behind the universe. It is responsible for natural processes, like the shining sun or growing grass. It forms the basis for law and order and allows society to thrive and people to lead virtuous lives. However, dharma also is experienced on a personal level. While it assigns duties according to one’s role in society, it is up to the person how to live up to those duties. Individuals have their own dharma called sva-dharma, which are unique to each person. What is appropriate for one person would not be suitable for another. Men, women, and children all have different forms of sva-dharma. These roles are assigned to each person at birth and are determined by social status, a system known as a caste system. According to some traditions, there are ten rules for the observance of dharma: patience, forgiveness, self-control, honesty, sanctity, control of the senses, reason, knowledge, truthfulness, and absence of anger. The goal of these pursuits is for the soul to achieve a union with universal reality.
In Buddhist teachings the concept of dharma is wide-ranging. Theravada Buddhism, the dominant form of the religion in Southeast Asia, sees it as another term for reality or existence. In Mahayana Buddhism, dharma is synonymous with Nirvana, the ultimate destination of Buddhist enlightenment. In all Buddhist philosophies, dharma is a cosmic tenet of nature, as fundamental as gravity and other physical laws, and a main focal point of meditation. According to tradition, dharma has several core characteristics:
It is infinite and encompasses both the material and spiritual worlds.
It can be thought of as the sixth sense. What sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound are to the body, dharma is to the mind.
It is a vessel of goodness, a manifestation of virtue.
Adhering to dharma is a person’s duty, and performing acts of kindness is a responsibility.
Dharma is a permanent universal truth. It includes all the laws of nature and is the nature of all law.
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