Paris & Paris, Dharma

Dharma

Dharma: One of the fundamental Buddhist terms. The word dharma derives from dhri (to preserve, maintain, keep, uphold, etc.) and has a great variety of meanings, including law, truth, doctrine, the Buddha’s teaching, steadfast decree, customary observance, prescribed conduct, duty, virtue, morality, good deeds, religion, justice, nature, quality, character, characteristic, essential quality, elements of existence, ultimate constituents of things, phenomena, and so forth.

Some of the more common usages are:

The Law, or ultimate truth. For example, saddharma, the original Sanskrit for the Mystic Law, means the unfathomable truth, governing all laws and phenomena.
The teaching of the Buddha, which reveals the Law. Dharma of abhidharma means the Buddha’s doctrine, or the sutras.
Manifestations of the Law, i.e., phenomena, things, facts, existences, etc. The word “phenomena” in “the true entity of all phenomena”
The elements of existence, which, according to the Hinayana schools, are the most basic constituents that make up an individual and his reality.
Norms of conduct conducive to the accumulation of good karma.

Following our dharma in the deepest sense means that we’re not really obeying the laws or regulations set down by society. Dharma isn’t about the external world but about aligning with the pure spiritual force within. When our intentions, thoughts, words, and actions support our life’s purpose, we are in dharma. And then we bring fulfillment to ourselves and everyone else affected by our actions. (Deepak Chopra)