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Added content from page Dharma
Let the Entire World be Happy
Let the Entire World be Happy
Dharma (धर्मः) is that which upholds, nourishes or supports the stability of the society, maintains the social order and secures the general well-being and progress of mankind.{{citation needed|reason=This statement might have been directly used from a reference.|date=December 2018}}
==Origin of Dharma==
The word Dharma has no accurate translation to any other language. A few amongst its many interpretations are Nyaya (law), charity, religion, and natural characteristics of living beings. The wide scope of Dharma, as depicted by these diverse interpretations, led to many seers and saints defining Dharma in many coherent ways. In brief, as said by Madhavacharya (माधवाचार्यः),
<blockquote>
<q>Dharma is that which sustains and ensures progress and welfare of all in this world and eternal bliss in the other world. The Dharma is promulgated in the form of commands.</q><ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1">Justice M. Rama Jois, ''Legal and Constitutional History of India'' (2016), Chapter 1, Pages 4-7</ref>
</blockquote>
Dharma is one of the four Purusharthas in [[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|Sanatana Dharma]]: Dharma, Artha (अर्थः), Kama (कामः), [[Moksha Dristipath|Moksha (मोक्षः)]]. Artha is the material wealth (gold, cattle, rice, worldly knowledge, etc.)<ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1"/> through which humans satisfy Kama (desires). The propounders of Dharma recognised that uncontrolled Kama of individuals would eventually lead to degradation of individual and the society. However, it was also recognised that fulfilment of Kama is necessary for human beings. Dharma was proposed to regulate the kinds of Kama and the means of earning Artha, to ensure the welfare of the entire society. In essence, the rules that define the proper means of obtaining Artha and the desires permitted to be fulfilled are as a whole known as Dharma. All the propounders of Dharma had unanimously stated that living in conformance with Dharma is the requirement for a sustainable society.<ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1"/> Any act which doesn't obey Dharma is termed Adharma.
The essence of various definitions of Dharma was put by Manu (मनुः) as
<blockquote>
<q>Ahimsa (अहिम्सा, non-violence), Satya (सत्यः, truthfulness), Asteya (अस्तोयम्, not coveting the property of others), Soucham (सौचम्, purity) and Indriyanigraha (इन्द्रियनिग्रहः, control of senses) are in brief, the common Dharmas for all [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|Varnas (वर्णाः)]].</q><ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1"/>
</blockquote>
It was also clearly stated by Manu that a society that doesn't follow Dharma would destroy itself.
<blockquote>
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ।</br>
तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ।।<ref>मनुस्मृति, 8-15</ref></br>
Meaning: Dharma destroys those who destroy it. Dharma protects those who protect it. Therefore, do not destroy Dharma so that we do not get destroyed.
</blockquote>
This consequence is natural: powerful individuals with uncontrolled Kama and in disregard for Dharma oppress the weak and severely injure the society with their actions. Bhishma tells Yudhishtira after the [[Mahabharata|Mahabharata]] war that there existed a time when every individual followed Dharma and mutually protected the society. As time progressed and few strong individuals started flouting Dharma and the king was brought into existence with the duty to protect Dharma and with the right to punish the individuals practising Adharma.<ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1"/>
'''Dharma''' (also '''Dhamma'''), is an Bharat's [[wikiquote:Spiritual|spiritual]] and [[wikiquote:Religious|religious]] term which signifies "'''the way of [[wikiquote:Righteousness|righteousness]]'''" and refers to one's [[wikiquote:Duty|duty]] or to any path of [[wikiquote:Virtue|virtue]]; the word ''dharma'' translates as '''''that which upholds or supports''''', and is sometimes translated into English as '''''[[wikiquote:Law|law]]'''''.
: See also:
:: '''[[wikiquote:Humanism|Humanism]]'''
:: '''[[wikiquote:Universalism|Universalism]]'''
== Quotes ==
* '''To uplift the lowly is dharmam.'''
** ''[[wikipedia:Akilattirattu Ammanai|Akilattirattu Ammanai]]''
* '''Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not consider [[wikiquote:Glory|glory]] and [[wikiquote:Fame|fame]] to be of great account unless they are achieved through having my subjects respect Dhamma and practice Dhamma, both [[wikiquote:Now|now]] and in the [[wikiquote:Future|future]].'''
** [[wikiquote:Ashoka|Ashoka]], in [[wikipedia:Edicts of Ashoka|Edicts of Ashoka]] (''c''. 257 BC)
* '''Dhamma is [[wikiquote:Good|good]], but what constitutes Dhamma? (It includes) little [[wikiquote:Evil|evil]], much [[wikiquote:Good|good]], [[wikiquote:Kindness|kindness]], [[wikiquote:Generosity|generosity]], [[wikiquote:Truthfulness|truthfulness]] and [[wikiquote:Purity|purity]].'''
** [[wikiquote:Ashoka|Ashoka]], in Edicts of Ashoka (''c''. 257 BC)
* '''This [[wikiquote:Progress|progress]] among the [[wikiquote:People|people]] through Dhamma has been done by two means, by Dhamma regulations and by [[wikiquote:Persuasion|persuasion]]. Of these, Dhamma regulation is of little effect, while persuasion has much more effect.''' The Dhamma regulations I have given are that various animals must be protected. And I have given many other Dhamma regulations also. But it is by persuasion that progress among the people through Dhamma has had a greater effect in respect of harmlessness to living beings and non-killing of living beings.
** [[wikiquote:Ashoka|Ashoka]], in Edicts of Ashoka (''c''. 257 BC)
* Once Soma, having returned from her alms round
: and having eaten her meal, entered the woods to meditate.
: Deep in the woods, she sat down under a tree.
: The tempter Mara, desirous and capable of arousing fear, wavering and dread,
: and wishing her to interrupt her focused meditation, came to her and said,
: Your intent is difficult, even for the sages;
: Completion cannot be reached by a woman regardless the wisdom reaped."
: Then Soma thought, "Who is this speaking, human or nonhuman?
: Surely it is evil Mara desiring to interrupt my focused meditation."
: Knowing that it was Mara, she said,
: "What does gender matter with regard to a well-composed mind,
: which experiences insight in the light of the dharma?"
: The evil Mara thought, "Soma knows me"
: and sorrowful for the evil, instantly vanished into darkness.
:* [[wikiquote:Gautama_Buddha|Gautama Buddha]] '''Soma and Mara''' An adapation of a translation by C.A.F. Rhys-Davids
* '''Where dharma prevails, there will be the [[wikiquote:Rule|rule]] of [[wikiquote:Law|law]] and [[wikiquote:Justice|justice]], and the [[wikiquote:King|king]] who follows the path of dharma is [[wikiquote:Known|known]] as 'dharma raja'.''' Even the [[wikiquote:Machiavellian|Machiavellian]] ''Arthashastra'' teaches the [[wikiquote:Ideal|ideal]] king to "establish the rule of Dharma by commands and directives, and [[wikiquote:Discipline|discipline]] among the [[wikiquote:People|people]] by the extension of [[wikiquote:Education|education]]." The most [[wikiquote:Powerful|powerful]] ruler or his minister could not place himself above Dharma — his subjects would immediately know his violations and chastise him.
** [[wikipedia:Gurcharan Das|Gurcharan Das]], ''The Difficulty of Being Good : On the Subtle Art of Dharma'' (2010), p. 58
* धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः
** ''Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah''
*** Dharma protected protects
**** ''[[wikipedia:Manusmṛti|Manusmṛti]]'', Ch. 8, verse 15
**** ''Variant translation:'' '''Dharma protects those who protect Dharma.'''
* '''Do not spend your [[wikiquote:Life|life]] committing [[wikiquote:Sinful|sinful]] [[wikiquote:Deeds|deeds]]; <br> It is [[wikiquote:Good|good]] for you to [[wikiquote:Practice|practice]] [[wikiquote:Holy|holy]] Dharma.'''
** [[wikiquote:Milarepa|Milarepa]], in "Song to the Hunter" as translated in ''The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: The Life-Story and Teaching of the Greatest Poet-Saint Ever to Appear in the History of Buddhism'' (1999) edited by Garma C. C. Chang
* '''No [[wikiquote:Language|language]] is [[wikiquote:Perfect|perfect]]. There is no proper equivalent [[wikiquote:Word|word]] in English for the Sanskrit term ''Dharma''. <br> Dharma is generally defined as [[wikiquote:Righteousness|righteousness]] or [[wikiquote:Duty|duty]]. Dharma is the [[wikiquote:Principle|principle]] of righteousness. It is the principle of [[wikiquote:Holiness|holiness]]. It is also the principle of [[wikiquote:Unity|Unity]].''' … If you protect it, it will protect you. It is your sole companion after [[wikiquote:Death|death]]. '''It is the sole refuge of [[wikiquote:Humanity|humanity]].''' <br> That which elevates one is Dharma. This is another [[wikiquote:Definition|definition]]. Dharma is that which leads you to the path of perfection and [[wikiquote:Glory|glory]]. [[wikiquote:Self|Self]]-realisation is the highest Dharma. '''Dharma is the [[wikiquote:Heart|heart]] of [[wikiquote:Hindu|Hindu]] [[wikiquote:Ethics|ethics]].'''
** [[wikipedia:Swami Sivananda|Swami Sivananda]], as quoted in ''All about Hinduism'' (1977) by the Divine Life Society, p. 51
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Dharmas]]
== References ==
== References ==
M. RAMA JOIS, DHARMA - The Global Ethic, Published by "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
M. RAMA JOIS, DHARMA - The Global Ethic, Published by "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
[[Category:Dharmas]]
[[Category:Dharmas]]