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What is Dharma?
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
Engyo
Prince of Dorkness!
Dharma is any or all of the Buddha's teachings. The term can be inclusive or exclusive, depending on context and user. Beyond that I would have to get into a short novel regarding dispensations of different Buddhas; True, Semblance and Declining Dharma ages; and lots more confusing stuff.
Master Vigil
Well-Known Member
I read somewhere that dharma is the truth that underlies everything. It is the truth that enlightenment brings. Is this a wrong idea?
Runt
Well-Known Member
In Hinduism dharma was loosly defined as "living rightly". You did this by doing your duty to your caste. If you did your dharma, you could achieve moksha. Then the word was adopted into Buddhism (obviously because Siddhartha was a Hindu before he tried to reform the religion and ended up founding Buddhism) and came to mean... well, what Engyo said! 
Master Vigil
Well-Known Member
Thank you engyo.
What do you know about the soto zen style of buddhism?
What do you know about the soto zen style of buddhism?
robtex
Veteran Member
In hinduism I have read that it is one moral duty. I have seen is specifically phrased as righteous duties. It has a relationship to karma but while I read it I don't think I understand it enough to present it. Karma in hindu being righteous actions. It seems though that to indulge in one is to indulge in the other. The hindus and buddiest both believe in reincarnation and dharma and karma are ways to move up the chain to higher levels. I don't know the ending level in hindu but in buddism it is nirvana. From my understand, and I may be wrong, hindus and buddiest both feel that morality is intrensic within man and to know oneself is to know what is morally right and wrong...If that is correct dharma as well as karma comes from within...a blueprint on how to live ones life.
Runt
Well-Known Member
I think the connection to karma is that by doing one's dharma, one essentially eradicates or negates all karmatic baggage (which chains people to the cycle of samsara into the illusionary world of maya) and thus can allow a soul to attain moksha (moksha is similar or possibly even identical to the idea of nirvana). Righteous duty, as far as I understand, is (or once was) duty to one's caste; i.e., a kshatriya's duty was to fight well or die well, and if he did this perfectly (did "perfect dharma") he could achieve moksha after death.