Dharma

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Dharma is a Sanskrit word (Pali: dhamma), from a root meaning "to hold up, to carry, to bear, to sustain",[1] with a great variety of meanings in the Dharmic religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Dharma in Hinduism

The Hindu concept of dharma is difficult to render in English. Its most generic sense is that of righteousness or duty. It also refers to an ethical way of living; it is the path one should follow to live rightly in accordance with Hindu philosophical principles.

Dharma in Buddhism

In Buddhism, followers adhere to these five principles of the dharma:

  • Faith in the triple gem, which is Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Sangha is the community.
  • The Precepts: don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t engage in sexual misconduct (rape or adultery), don’t lie, and don’t take intoxicants which cloud the mind.
  • Listening: Only through listening can we understand good and evil.
  • Giving: Engaging in charity and selflessness reminds us that the Dharma is not intended for us alone, but it is to be shared with everyone.
  • Wisdom: One has to listen, contemplate and put into practice the Dharma. Then one may gain wisdom, and realize the truth.

References

  1. http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Sanskrit/sanskritterms.htm

See also