What is Dharma?

When you learn about Hindu or Sanātan Dharma Philosophy you often learn about the concept of “Dharma”. Some call it “duty”, or a religious code of righteousness, but what is it really? The Sanskrit has a much more subtle meaning than simply “duty”.

According to Swami Chinmayananda, Dharma comes from the root dhar which means “to uphold, sustain, [and] support”. The term Dharma denotes (as opposed to conotes) “that which holds together the different aspects and qualities of an object into a whole.”

In terms of connotation, Dharma means something more than just “duty” or other simple meanings we give to it. Swami Chinmayananda says that the best rendering of Dharma that he has come across is “The Law of Being” meaning, “that which makes a thing or being what it is.” He gives the examples that the fire’s Dharma is to burn, the sun’s Dharma is to shine, etc.

Thusly, Dharma means “the essential nature of anything”. We must be faithful to our own true nature of the Divine within, and to be active and dynamic in this world we must be constantly seeking our Dharma.

This is why the philosophy of those who lived in the Hindu Kush (Named the “Hindus”) is called Sanātan Dharma. Sanātan means Eternal or Universal, and the best meaning of Dharma has been given. Therefore the Hindu philosophy encompasses all things in this world, living and inanimate with a philosophy of an Eternal Being that lives true to its own nature.

So think about it. What is your Dharma?

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