Editing Dharma (section)

{{Short description|Key concept in Indian philosophy and Eastern religions, with multiple meanings}}
{{About|the concept found in Indian religions|}}
{{Distinguish|Dharna}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}

'''Dharma''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɑːr|m|ə}}; {{langx|sa|[[wikt:धर्म#Sanskrit|धर्म]]}}, {{IPA|sa|dʱɐrmɐ|pron|Dharma.ogg}}) is a key concept in various [[Indian religions]]. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear [[Untranslatability|translation]] and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold'' or ''to support'', thus referring to law that sustains things—from one's life to society, and to the Universe at large. In its most commonly used sense, dharma refers to an individual's moral responsibilities or duties; the dharma of a farmer differs from the dharma of a soldier, thus making the concept of dharma a varying dynamic. As with the other components of the [[Puruṣārtha]], the concept of ''dharma'' is pan-Indian. The antonym of dharma is ''[[adharma]]''.

In [[Hinduism]], ''dharma'' denotes behaviour that is considered to be in accord with ''[[Ṛta]]''—the "order and custom" that makes [[life]] and universe possible.{{refn|group=note|name="ODWR-Dharma"|From the ''[[Oxford Dictionary of World Religions]]'': "In Hinduism, dharma is a fundamental concept, referring to the order and custom which make life and a universe possible, and thus to the behaviours appropriate to the maintenance of that order."<ref name="ODWR-Dharma">{{cite web |last=Bowker |first=John |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dharma.aspx#1 |title=Dharma |work=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions |date=June 8, 2018 |via=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref>}} This includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living" according to the stage of life or social position. ''Dharma'' is believed to have a transtemporal validity, and is one of the Puruṣārtha. The concept of ''dharma'' was in use in the [[historical Vedic religion]] (1500–500 BCE), and its meaning and conceptual scope has evolved over several millennia.

In [[Buddhism]], ''dharma'' ({{langx|pi|dhamma|italic=yes}}) refers to the [[The Buddha#Teachings and views|teachings of the Buddha]] and to the true nature of reality (which the teachings point to). In [[Buddhist philosophy]], ''[[#Buddhism|dhamma/dharma]]'' is also the term for specific "[[phenomena]]" and for the [[Two truths doctrine|ultimate truth]].{{refn|group=note|name="DK"|David Kalupahana: "The old Indian term ''dharma'' was retained by the Buddha to refer to phenomena or things. However, he was always careful to define this ''dharma'' as "dependently arisen phenomena" (''paticca-samuppanna-dhamma'') ... In order to distinguish this notion of ''dhamma'' from the Indian conception where the term ''dharma'' meant reality (''atman''), in an ontological sense, the Buddha utilised the conception of result or consequence or fruit (''attha'', Sk. ''artha'') to bring out the pragmatic meaning of ''dhamma''."<ref name=david />}} [[Dharma (Jainism)|''Dharma'' in Jainism]] refers to the teachings of [[Tirthankara]] (Jina) and the body of doctrine pertaining to purification and moral transformation. In [[Sikhism]], ''dharma'' indicates the path of righteousness, proper religious practices, and performing moral duties.