The term "dharma" has a powerful meaning in ancient India. You can find the word in texts dating back over 2,000 years. But not only there—you can also discover this concept on the Ashoka Pillar, which is already 2,300 years old. In this article, you'll learn what it means and how you can benefit from it in your daily life. Prepare to be amazed and delve deep into Buddhist teachings.
The term Dharma and its meaning
The word cannot be translated into English, which makes the exact translation somewhat more difficult. When viewed in the context of Hinduism or Yoga, the term dharma refers to custom, rule, practice, law, or order. Ethical action in nature is also associated with it.
In other words, Dharma means living in harmony with nature and cosmic laws.
A prominent Indologist (Karl-Friedrich Geldner), for example, translated the word as follows: The syllable "Dhr" can be understood as "to hold." This means that we are enveloped in the Dharma field. It is precisely this that holds us—thus, Dharma is the cosmic field through which we move and which sustains us.
The more connected a person is with the Dharma, the easier it is for him to achieve everything he desires.
What is the impact of Dharma in Hinduism?
Traditional Hindus live according to the Dharma, which shapes the ethics of these devout students. These include, for example:
- religious rituals
- Fasting periods
- direct impact on social connections within the family
- Moral
- Sense of justice
- Preparing the food
For a Hindu, truth lies in living according to these rules—in doing so, they believe they are acting in harmony with nature and the cosmos. Those who want to follow a meaningful path and feel happy observe these rules.
Although Hindus are very obedient, there is no concrete plan or written code of laws. Nevertheless, followers are aware of the cause-and-effect principle—also known as karma. The more obediently someone lives, the less severe the consequences are. If karma is not followed, this is called adharma.
What is the situation among Buddhists?
In Buddhism, things are a little different. Here, Dharma stands for the law proclaimed by the Buddha. It is the teaching of the "Four Noble Truths." This contains the formula for refuge, meaning that a follower of Buddhism can seek refuge with the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Sangha.
Indian Mythology: What is Dharma?
Those seeking to explain the concept of dharma in the mystical Indian world do so with the synonym justice. Dharma is a name for the judge of the dead or for an ancient sage. He is often also called Prajapati. This man married the daughters of Daksha and fathered many offspring. These were considered the embodiment of virtue, intelligence, and religious customs.
What types of Dharma are there?
There are different categories of Dharma, which we would like to list below:
- Sva D. – the Own
- Vyakti D. – this concerns the individual
- Parivarika D. – this concerns the family
- Rashtra D. – national
- Samaja D. – social
- Manava D – Humanity
- Apad D. – unusual
- Varna D. – professional
- Ashrama D – Life Stage
- Yuga D. – Age
How can one recognize one's own Dharma?
First, you should know that there are different castes of people. Svahdharma, for example, prescribes the rights and responsibilities of the members of a particular caste. This also determines whether or not someone will accumulate negative consequences after performing a certain act.
If a person belongs to the warrior caste, they are permitted to kill and go to war. After such an act, they do not suffer any negative consequences. However, if a person of a different caste kills another person, this has a different effect on their existence.
Dharma, along with karma, thus becomes an ethical concept. All these rules are intended to help people live righteously. It also serves as a double-security net, so that everyone knows how they should act.
Who are you?
With all this information, of course, comes the question of who you are. The majority of humanity wants to grow and gain spiritual experiences—regardless of whether you belong to a religion or not. The hunger to develop one's own potential can often backfire because you lose your way.
In this case, Dharma can help one to find one's own place in existence.
You must know: every person in this world has a task, every person is a student of life and has his or her value in the universe.
The answer from the Vedic scriptures regarding how we can lead a happy existence in this world is: The basis of our actions should always be our soul's purpose. In doing so, we contribute to the happiness of the whole.
Suffering is experienced by those who have thoughts, feelings or actions that are not in harmony with the law of the universe.
Dharma and Yoga: Why can yoga help?
The term "Dharma" is often used in connection with yoga, even though the word "yoga teacher" doesn't even exist in the Dharma Code. The answer is: theoretically, you can live Dharma in any profession or activity—and this is definitely not limited to teaching yoga.
The main focus is to ensure that your activity is in harmony with your soul.
Daily practices on the yoga mat can help you get to know yourself and your path better. When you feel yourself, your body, and your mind, you will find your purpose—you will come closer to your soul. And this is the prerequisite for following your path. Many exercises from Hatha Yoga are implemented.
Of course, you can also meditate—it's a wonderful tool for focusing even more on yourself. To do this, sit on your pillow every day, close your eyes, and let all your feelings and thoughts be there. Breathe deeply and find peace within.
At the beginning, the path of development can be rocky; you'll often ask yourself why you're here and what the meaning of your existence is. All of this is perfectly normal, and these points on the Dharmic path are also normal:
- View pain points
- discover your own shadow issues
- Focus on the path rather than the result
- Falling back into old patterns (so-called vikalpas) is about shifting your focus toward a new direction. The unconscious part of our mind is very powerful, and therefore it is important to identify and release our old patterns. Only then can we pursue our heart's desires – yoga can be very helpful in breaking through old belief patterns and opening ourselves up to the new.
Do you practice yoga to get closer to your heart's desires? Have you ever explored the Dharmic path?
