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'''Dharma''' is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. It has multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Hinduism, ''dharma'' signifies behaviours that are considered to be in accord with the order that makes life and universe possible (Ṛta), and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living." In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order", it is frequently used to refer to "phenomena," and it is also applied to the teachings of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]].
'''Dharma''' (devanāgarī: धर्म) is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. It has multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Hinduism, ''dharma'' signifies behaviours that are considered to be in accord with the order that makes life and universe possible (Ṛta), and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living." In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order", it is frequently used to refer to "phenomena," and it is also applied to the teachings of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]].


== Definition ==
== Definition ==
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[[Annie Besant]] described the Theosophical meaning of the term "dharma" as follows:
[[Annie Besant]] described the Theosophical meaning of the term "dharma" as follows:


<blockquote>Dharma may now be defined as the “inner nature of a thing at any given stage of [[evolution]], and the law of the next stage of its unfolding”. . . . Take those two thoughts together, and then you will understand why perfection must be reached by following one’s own Dharma. My Dharma is the stage of evolution which my nature has reached in unfolding the seed of divine life which is myself, plus the law of life according to which the next stage is to be performed by me. It belongs to this separated self. I must know the stage of my growth, and I must know the law which will enable me to grow further; then I know my Dharma, and by following that Dharma I am going towards perfection.<ref>Annie Besant, ''Dharma'', (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 19869), 17.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Dharma may now be defined as the “inner nature of a thing at any given stage of [[evolution]], and the law of the next stage of its unfolding”. . . . Take those two thoughts together, and then you will understand why perfection must be reached by following one’s own Dharma. My Dharma is the stage of evolution which my nature has reached in unfolding the seed of divine life which is myself, plus the law of life according to which the next stage is to be performed by me. It belongs to this separated self. I must know the stage of my growth, and I must know the law which will enable me to grow further; then I know my Dharma, and by following that Dharma I am going towards perfection.<ref>Annie Besant, ''Dharma'', (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1895), 17.</ref></blockquote>


=== Duty ===
=== Duty ===
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The word ''dharma'' is sometimes translated as "duty", which may be seen as one aspect of it. Even the [[Masters of Wisdom]] are bounded by duty although it is a willingly accepted one. In [[Mahatma Letter No. 126#Page 1 transcription, image, and notes|one of his letters]] [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote:
The word ''dharma'' is sometimes translated as "duty", which may be seen as one aspect of it. Even the [[Masters of Wisdom]] are bounded by duty although it is a willingly accepted one. In [[Mahatma Letter No. 126#Page 1 transcription, image, and notes|one of his letters]] [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote:


<blockquote>My first duty is to my Master. And duty, let me tell you, is for us, stronger than any friendship or even love; as without this abiding principle which is the indestructible cement that has held together for so many milleniums, the scattered custodians of nature's grand secrets — our Brotherhood, nay, our doctrine itself — would have crumbled long ago into unrecognisable atoms.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 126 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), ???.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>My first duty is to my Master. And duty, let me tell you, is for us, stronger than any friendship or even love; as without this abiding principle which is the indestructible cement that has held together for so many milleniums, the scattered custodians of nature's grand secrets — our Brotherhood, nay, our doctrine itself — would have crumbled long ago into unrecognisable atoms.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in Chronological Zequence'' No. 126 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 422. See [[Mahatma Letter No. 126#Page 2|Mahatma Letter No. 126 page 2]].</ref></blockquote>
 
== Additional resources==


== Online resources==
===Articles===
===Articles===
*[http://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/1504# Karma and Dharma: Twin Keys to the Heroic Journey] by Joy Mills
* [https://theosophy.world/encyclopedia/dharma Dharma] in Theosophy World
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/synchronicity-the-gateway-to-opportunity Synchronicity: The Gateway to Opportunity] by Ed Abdill
*[http://hpb.narod.ru/Dharma.htm# Dharma] by Dora Kunz
*[https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/karma-and-dharma-twin-keys-to-the-heroic-journey Karma and Dharma: Twin Keys to the Heroic Journey] by Joy Mills


===Books===
===Books===
*[http://hpb.narod.ru/DharmaAB.htm# Dharma] by Annie Besant
*[http://www.anandgholap.net/Dharma-AB.htm# Dharma] by Annie Besant
 
===Audio===
*[https://archive.org/download/karmadharmajourneymills/KarmaDharmaJourney_Mills.mp3# Karma-Dharma: Two Keys to the Heroic Journey] by Joy Mills
*[https://www.theosophy.world/sites/default/files/audio/Patterson%2C%20J/190%20Pattterson%2C%20J%20-%20What%20is%20Dharma.mp3# What is Dharma? by Jack Patterson]
 
===Video===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BCSTKUEjtk Dharma-The Lodestar of Life] by Ed Abdill. Presented via live stream on on Aug 8, 2021 at the European School of Theosophy. Introduction by Juliet Bates.
*[https://youtu.be/yRYTOPapaJs# Ed Abdill - Discovering your Inner Self and your Dharma - Week 2] by Ed. Abdill
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6cWrYY7DRs# Dharma—The Law of Our Best Being] by Joy Mills
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9yFR4wR_I&list=PLRtuDWE10sVdYiUIRrCSToDPsSuzBzyT6&index=8# Our Mission in Life] by Pablo Sender


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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[[Category:Hindu concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist concepts]]
[[Category:Buddhist concepts]]
[[it:Dharma]]

Latest revision as of 22:59, 14 December 2023

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Dharma (devanāgarī: धर्म) is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. It has multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Hinduism, dharma signifies behaviours that are considered to be in accord with the order that makes life and universe possible (Ṛta), and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living." In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order", it is frequently used to refer to "phenomena," and it is also applied to the teachings of the Buddha.

Definition

There is no equivalent single-word synonym for dharma in western languages. The Sanskrit noun dharma (धर्म) derives from the root dhṛ, which means "to hold, maintain, keep or bear." It takes a meaning of "what is established or firm", and hence "law". It is the thing that regulates the course of change by not participating in change, but that principle which remains constant. The meaning of the word dharma depends on the context. There are numerous definitions such as that which is established or firm, steadfast decree, statute, law, practice, custom, duty, right, justice, virtue, morality, ethics, religion, religious merit, good works, nature, character, quality, property. In common parlance dharma means "right way of living" and "path of rightness".

In Theosophy

Annie Besant described the Theosophical meaning of the term "dharma" as follows:

Dharma may now be defined as the “inner nature of a thing at any given stage of evolution, and the law of the next stage of its unfolding”. . . . Take those two thoughts together, and then you will understand why perfection must be reached by following one’s own Dharma. My Dharma is the stage of evolution which my nature has reached in unfolding the seed of divine life which is myself, plus the law of life according to which the next stage is to be performed by me. It belongs to this separated self. I must know the stage of my growth, and I must know the law which will enable me to grow further; then I know my Dharma, and by following that Dharma I am going towards perfection.[1]

Duty

The word dharma is sometimes translated as "duty", which may be seen as one aspect of it. Even the Masters of Wisdom are bounded by duty although it is a willingly accepted one. In one of his letters Master K.H. wrote:

My first duty is to my Master. And duty, let me tell you, is for us, stronger than any friendship or even love; as without this abiding principle which is the indestructible cement that has held together for so many milleniums, the scattered custodians of nature's grand secrets — our Brotherhood, nay, our doctrine itself — would have crumbled long ago into unrecognisable atoms.[2]

Additional resources

Articles

Books

Audio

Video

Notes

  1. Annie Besant, Dharma, (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1895), 17.
  2. Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in Chronological Zequence No. 126 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 422. See Mahatma Letter No. 126 page 2.