Definition
Dharma is a foundational concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism with no single English equivalent. It encompasses cosmic order, moral law, religious duty, righteous conduct, and the path appropriate to one's role in life.
Depending on the tradition, dharma can mean the underlying law that holds the universe together, the ethical obligations a person owes others, or, in Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha that guide a follower toward liberation.
Why it matters
How it works
Dharma is understood as both universal and particular. At the universal level, it is the order that keeps the cosmos coherent and just. At the personal level, it specifies the duties that fit a person's role, age, and circumstances — a ruler's dharma differs from a student's or a parent's. Living in accord with dharma is believed to maintain harmony and, in traditions that teach rebirth, to shape one's future condition. Acting against dharma brings disorder, both inwardly and in the wider world.