Dharma-what it means- Part 1

As we venture into finding what Dharma means, we realize that Dharma does not mean what most of us think it does....

 

Generally the equivalent of Dharma in English is considered "religion". However, this translation is based on a fundamental misunderstanding since if "religion" means :-

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. the condition of belonging to a religious order,

 

2. a particular religious or monastic order,
3. a particular system of a belief in a supernatural power,

Then Dharma has nothing to do with religion. In this sense, the Sanskrit word for "religion" can be "sampradaya" or "Mata", but not Dharma. However, in Sanskrit, there is no word which is the exact equivalent of religion.

 

Anyway, dharma is not religion.

 

What is it then?

 

Dharma is one of the most important themes within what we now refer as Hinduism. One often sees dharma translated as religion, duty, or even righteousness, but in fact, there is no single direct translation for dharma. Religion, duty and righteousness are not wrong; they are simply included within the idea of dharma. The word "dharma" comes from the Sanskrit root dhri, meaning to "uphold" or to "sustain." From this perspective, the best way to think of dharma is to say, "that which upholds or sustains the positive order of things: the nation, the community, the family and ultimately even the universe..

 

The thought of dharma generates deep confidence in the Hindu mind in cosmic justice. This is reflected in the often-quoted maxims: "The righteous side will have the victory." "Truth only prevails, not falsehood." "Dharma kills if it is killed; dharma protects if it is protected." "The entire world rests on dharma.

 

Dharma is the law that maintains the cosmic order as well as the individual and social order.

 

Dharma sustains human life in harmony with nature. Dharma’ is a unique human attribute

 

.At a social level, every individual has a particular dharma according to their place in life. Children have a dharma, parents have a dharma, teachers have a dharma, the police have a dharma and even the head of a nation has a dharma.
One of the dharmas of a child, for example, is to obey parents and to study. Parents have a dharma to protect and look after children: to make sure they are educated, fed, housed and trained. It is sometimes written on the sides of police cars: To Serve and to Protect. This is a statement of dharma for police. A head of state has a dharma to protect the country and to provide a secure environment for its citizens. If everyone performs their dharma: children obey parents, parents look after children, citizens uphold the laws of the land, the police enforce the law, a head of state protects the nation, then the family, the community and the nation are "upheld" and there can be prosperity. This is dharma, and it all follows from the idea of dhri, to uphold.
The opposite of dharma is "a-dharma." What this means is obvious. If children fail to obey parents, if parents do not train and discipline children, if the police misuse their power and fail to protect, if the head of state fails to act in the interest of the nation, then adharma exists, and when there is too much adharma, there will be a break down of the family, society or the nation. The nation, the community, the family and even individuals cannot prosper when too much adharma reigns. There is a saying, Protect dharma and dharma will protect you.

 

Wait for more in part 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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