The life without Dharma is just like the life without oxygen and water, in other words it can be said that it is being as good as
dead. Dharma is the soul of any individual. If everyone complies with
the teachings of Dharma, nature will become favourable to human happiness
and all creatures.Dharma is one of the common platforms on which both Hinduism
and Buddhism propagates. However the core values of dharma are different for
both of them.
Dharma is certainly the central
principle of the Hinduism faith. The Hindus believe that dharma was revealed in
the Vedas. The term dharma comes from the Sanskrit word “dhri” which means to
uphold or to sustain and may be translated as “religion”, ‟law”, “order”,
“duty”, or “ethics”. It stands for all the principles and purposes, influences
and institutions that shape the character of man and woman both at an
individual level and also as a member of the society. It is the law of right
living, and its observance safeguards both happiness on earth and salvation.
Dharma is the combination of ethics, religion and righteousness which regulates the life of a people following the Hinduism. The laws of dharma consider the element of fasts and feasts, social and family ties, personal habits and tastes.
Mahabharata, the great epic of India, contains a discussion on the topic of dharma. Bhishma in Mahabharata, had mastered the wisdom and knowledge of dharma once asked Yudhistira to explain the meaning and scope of dharma, then he, replied: “It is most difficult to define Dharma. Dharma has been explained to be that which helps the uplifting of living beings. Therefore, that which ensures the welfare of living beings is surely Dharma. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma".For elaborate study please refer Shanti Parva 109:9-11 of Mahabharata.
Dharma is the combination of ethics, religion and righteousness which regulates the life of a people following the Hinduism. The laws of dharma consider the element of fasts and feasts, social and family ties, personal habits and tastes.
Mahabharata, the great epic of India, contains a discussion on the topic of dharma. Bhishma in Mahabharata, had mastered the wisdom and knowledge of dharma once asked Yudhistira to explain the meaning and scope of dharma, then he, replied: “It is most difficult to define Dharma. Dharma has been explained to be that which helps the uplifting of living beings. Therefore, that which ensures the welfare of living beings is surely Dharma. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma".For elaborate study please refer Shanti Parva 109:9-11 of Mahabharata.
Many scholars explain dharma as that which is indicated by the Vedas as conducive to the highest good for human and nature in a whole. There are four aspects of human life, dharma (duty); artha (wealth/profit); kama (pleasure); and moksha (liberation). Dharma controls the pursuit of both pleasure/ kama and wealth/profit/artha. For those in whom dharma is predominent are sattvik (virtuous) in nature, while the wealth seekers are rajasik (passionate) and those seeking for pleasure are tamarisk (ignorant). Therefore dharma comprises of every type of righteous conduct covering each and every aspect of life and lifestyle, that are essential to the welfare of an individual, the society and the nature at large. Those who observe the laws of dharma automatically attain moksha (eternal bliss). Therefore dharma, artha, kama, and moksha shape at the ends of life.Dharma comprises of action and rituals. A proper performance of rituals is important to the ordering of individual lives and the community. The Dharmashastras (religious manuals, the earliest source of Hindu law) details the different types of rituals. It is a part of the dharma to name and bless a child, to initiate their education, to perform the last rites of parents. The rituals are acts that have a role in the ordering of the world, as it should be.
Different individuals have different obligations, duties and responsiblities according to their age group, gender, and social position and statues. Even though dharma is universal, it is also particular and functions within concrete circumstances. Each person has his or her own dharma known as “swa-dharma”. Bhagvad Gita, the text set before the great battle of Kurukshatra, illustrates the importance of swa-dharma. The epic depicts the story of Arjuna who is a warrior, riding his chariot questions his charioteer Shri Krishna as to why he should fight a battle against his own relatives and teachers. Shri Krishna assures him that the battle is righteous one and Arjuna must fight, as it was his swa-dharma as a warrior to fight the battle of Kurukshatra. He must fight with detachment from the results of his actions and within the rules of the warrior’s dharma. Therefore not acting according to one’s own dharma is wrong and called “adharma”. Shri Krishna says in Bhagvad Gita that whenever adharma overshadow dharma, he will appear on earth to save the righteous and destroy the wicked.
Dharma is thus also the social order, one’s duty as part of a division of the society, a varna (caste) or jati (birth group). The Rig Veda defines four varnas that emerge from parts of the body of the divine being that created the universe. These include the Brahmins (priests class), Kshatriyas (warriors class), Vaisyas (merchants class), and the Sudras (servants class). Each of the varnas serves God’s creation in their own capacities. For example, priests by their teachings and spirituality, warriors by their heroism and war skill, merchants by their skills of trading, and servants by their service. When the different varnas fulfills their respective duties, the society is considered to be just and in accordance with the dharma. Correct action in accordance to dharma is understood as a service to humanity as well as to God.
According to Buddhism, dharma is the doctrine that is the universal truth common
to each and every individual and all creatures at all times. Buddhists believe
that human beings can free themselves from suffering by practicing meditation
and cultivating a lifestyle prescribed by the Buddha. The teachings of Gautam
Buddha, was delivered in India almost 2,500 years ago. The teachings of Gautam
Buddha are also referred to as the Dharma. He often said that he gave so many
teachings in distinctive ways that every human being could hear them in the way
that benefited them the most. This suggests that there is no single right way
of understanding Buddhist teachings. Buddha provided vehicles to help provide
different approaches to experience and awaken through the dharma teachings.
These vehicles are referred to as the Three Baskets that can be referred to as,
The Hinaya teachings including Sutras, Gautam Buddha’s stories, and teachings
are such as The Dhammapada and other Theravadin lineage teachings. Several of
these practices are still alive in Southeast Asia. Mahayana teachings including
the Zen traditions are still alive in Asia (in countries like: Japan, Korea,
China, and Southeast Asia) whereas Vajrayana’s teachings developed mostly in
Tibet, Mongolia, parts of Nepal, and few countries of central Asia.
There is no hierarchy or competition between traditions and paths in Buddhism.
Each individual is on a journey together with others and called the “sangha”
having a goal of offering support to one another in order to liberate from
suffering. The wheel is a salient symbol in Buddhism as it depicts the cycle of
life and death. According to Buddhist thoughts and discipline, when one dies
they are reborn into a new form that could be of a deity, human, animal, some
lower form, or an inhabitant of hell. All positive thoughts and actions causes good
karma and directs one to reborn in a higher form. On the other hand
one’s bad karma may result in rebirth in a lower form. As part of the Dharma,
Gautam Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths that forms the basis of Buddhist
thought and discipline.
1. Life is a suffering
2. Suffering is caused by craving
3. Suffering can have an end
4. The Eight-fold path leads to the
end of suffering.
The Buddhists believe that suffering is due to the impermanence of life and the
ultimate goal in the Buddhism is to end the cycle of suffering. The achievement
of this goal is called “nirvana”. Buddha’s ideas applied to people irrespective
of their rank in life, and specified that individuals be in charge of their own
destiny. These ideas were in contrast with the ideas of Brahmanism that
dominated during Buddha’s lifetime. Brahmanism encouraged the offering of gifts
to priests for salvation. The society was divided into caste that determined
one’s duty or dharma. Buddhism differed in this context from Hinduism as it did
not believe in social distinctions between human beings and so was accessible
to anyone. Gautam Buddha believed that compassion should be cultivated and
advocated among all living beings. Although the “Sanatan Dharma” started with
the samr concept, however gradually wit the pass of time the philosophy of
Sanatan Dharma was adulterated.
With the spread of Buddhism to China by the 2nd century C.E. the new ideas of karma, reincarnation, hell, monks, and enlightenment were introduced. Later Buddhism was brought from China to other countries in Asia, such as Korea, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The Buddha Dharma was thus adopted and became an integral part of the society.
With the spread of Buddhism to China by the 2nd century C.E. the new ideas of karma, reincarnation, hell, monks, and enlightenment were introduced. Later Buddhism was brought from China to other countries in Asia, such as Korea, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The Buddha Dharma was thus adopted and became an integral part of the society.
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