[BlackBird]

I just need a little bit of help wrapping my head arounf the concept of dharma... I have heard many different definitions of it... that it is ones duties in life that need to be fulfilled, that it is the truth that needs to be seen... I really don't know... and what is the difference between dharma and damma?

[asypecresty]

Dharma is Sanskrit and Dhamma is Pali, It's the same word in two different languages and it basically means the teachings of the Buddha. You may also see it described as the path or the truth or true nature of things.

[tiereenny]

Hi BetteredRose,

As far as I know, Dhamma with capital "D" refers to the teachings of Buddha in the Nikayas which is a huge collection of his teachings. Dharma, again with capital "D" is used by the Mahayana/Vajrayana/Zen traditions and refers to their particular teachings. For example, the Dharma of Soto Zen school can be found in the Shobogenzo of Dogen Zengi.

dhamma and dharma with lower case "d" means all the things from where we get contact like objects, happenings, ideas, phenomenal events in this very moment and which are an object of contemplation and understanding in terms of what Buddha taught.

[auctionlover]

I just need a little bit of help wrapping my head arounf the concept of dharma...

sure, i can help you understand the concept of dharma in the right way

from Wikipedia: Dharma Sanskrit: धर्म dhárma, Pali: धम्म dhamma; lit. that which upholds or supports

therefore, we can ask ourselves, what things uphold and support our life?

(1) natural things or nature, such as oxygen, trees, food, people, a body, a mind, eyes, ears, hands, feet, happiness, Nirvana, etc

(2) understanding law or truth; the truth supports our life; including the Buddhist teachings

(3) practising according to the law or truth; that is, doing one's duties in life that need to be fulfilled

(4) the happiness, peace, well-being, good social relationships & other results that comes from doing one's duties in life

to end, the basic meaning of 'dharma' is that which upholds and supports life (so our life lives free of problems)

all of those things we need and must use to support our life are dharma

with metta

element


Dhamma is the thing called "the Duty of all living things," that which they must do to survive both physically and mentally, both for their own sake and for that of society. Even when translating this word as "teaching," "learning," or "practice," the important understanding is still in its being the duty of salvation. Whenever duty is done, that is Dhamma practice.

Distinguishing four understandings of Dhamma makes a comprehensive study of Dhamma convenient: understand (1) Nature itself; (2) the Law of Nature; (3) Duty according to the Natural Law and; (4) the Fruits which come from practicing that Duty, until able to live life in harmony with Nature and without any problems.

"Dhamma" has many meanings. If we focus on only one, let it be the Duty which is performed correctly regarding the practitioner's situation, according to the Law of Nature, leading to peace for everyone, no matter the time or place.

Bhikkhu Buddhadasa

[Nikitka]

Everyday something is learnt,

Thanks Element

[spiveker]

Thanks Element

hi KA

some examples from the suttas

note: the translators at times choose what seems to be an unsuitable meaning

Tatra, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi pubbaṅgamā hoti. Kathañca, bhikkhave, sammādiṭṭhi pubbaṅgamā hoti? Sammādiṭṭhissa, bhikkhave, micchādiṭṭhi nijjiṇṇā hoti. Ye ca micchādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti te cassa nijjiṇṇā honti. Sammādiṭṭhipaccayā aneke kusalā dhammā bhāvanāpāripūriṃ gacchanti.

Of those, right view is the forerunner. And how is right view the forerunner? In one of right view, wrong view is abolished. The many evil, unskillful qualities*/states** that come into play with wrong view as their condition are also abolished, while the many skillful qualities/states that have right view as their condition go to the culmination of their development.

* Thanissaro
** Bodhi

MN 117 Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce paduṭṭhena, bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti, cakkaṃva vahato padaṃ.

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā, manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce pasannena, bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṃ sukhamanveti, chāyāva anapāyinī

Mind precedes all mental states*. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought.
If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought.
If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.

Phenomena** are preceded by the heart,
ruled by the heart,
made of the heart.
If you speak or act
with a corrupted heart,
then suffering follows you —
as the wheel of the cart,
the track of the ox
that pulls it.

Phenomena are preceded by the heart,
ruled by the heart,
made of the heart.
If you speak or act
with a calm, bright heart,
then happiness follows you,
like a shadow
that never leaves.

* Buddharakkhita
** Thanissaro

Dhammapada Sabbe dhammā anattā’’ti, yadā paññāya passati;
Atha nibbindati dukkhe, esa maggo visuddhiyā.

"All things* are not-self" — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.

When you see with discernment,
'All phenomena**are not-self' —
you grow disenchanted with stress.
This is the path
to purity.

* Buddharakkhita
** Thanissaro

Dhammapada Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṃ;
Averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.

Hostilities aren't stilled
through hostility,
regardless.
Hostilities are stilled
through non-hostility:
this, an unending truth

*****

Appampi ce saṃhita bhāsamāno, dhammassa hoti anudhammacārī;
Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṃ, sammappajāno suvimuttacitto;
Anupādiyāno idha vā huraṃ vā, sa bhāgavā sāmaññassa hoti.

Little though he recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing of this or any other world — he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life.

Dhammapada Monks, whether or not there is the arising of Tathagatas, this property stands — ṭhitāva sā dhātu dhammaṭṭhitatā dhammaniyāmatā - this steadfastness of the Dhamma, this orderliness [lawfulness] of the Dhamma: All processes are inconstant. All processes are unsatisfactory. All phenomena are not-self.

Dhamma-niyama Sutta

niyāma = 2. definiteness, certainty, limitation; 3. natural law, cosmic order O Bhikkhus. The footprints of all land-bound creatures fit within the footprint of the elephant; the elephant's footprint is said to be the supreme footprint in terms of size. Similarly all skilful dhammas have heedfulness as their base, converge within the bounds of heedfulness. Heedfulness may be said to be supreme amongst those dhammas." [S.V.43]

"I see no other dhamma which is as much a cause for arising of as-yet unarisen skilful dhammas and the decline of already arisen unskilful dhammas as heedfulness. When one is heedful, as-yet unarisen skilful dhammas will inevitably arise and unskilful dhammas that have already arisen will inevitably decline." [A.I.11]

Payutto Nāhaṃ , bhikkhave, aññaṃ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi yaṃ evaṃ lahuparivattaṃ yathayidaṃ cittaṃ. Yāvañcidaṃ, bhikkhave, upamāpi na sukarā yāva lahuparivattaṃ citta’’nti. Aṭṭhamaṃ

I don't envision a single thing that is as quick to reverse itself as the mind — so much so that there is no feasible simile for how quick to reverse itself it is

AN 1.48

[Arratherimi]

here is one where it seems the translator has used the wrong meaning:

chandamūlakā sabbe dhammā
manasikārasambhavā sabbe dhammā
phassasamudayā sabbe dhammā
vedanāsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā
samādhippamukhā sabbe dhammā
satādhipateyyā sabbe dhammā
paññuttarā sabbe dhammā
vimuttisārā sabbe dhammā
amatogadhā sabbe dhamma
nibbānapariyosānā sabbe dhammā

All phenomena are rooted in desire.
All phenomena come into play through attention.
All phenomena have contact as their origination.
All phenomena have feeling as their meeting place.
All phenomena have concentration as their presiding state.
All phenomena have mindfulness as their governing principle.
All phenomena have discernment as their surpassing state.
All phenomena have release as their heartwood.
All phenomena gain their footing in the deathless.
All phenomena have Unbinding as their final end

Mula Sutta: Rooted for me, it should read something like as follows:

All skilful practices are rooted in zeal (chanda).
All skilful practices come into play through attention.
All skilful practices have contact as their origination.
All skilful practices converge on feelings.
All skilful practices have concentration at the forefront.
All skilful practices are governed by mindfulness.
All skilful practices have wisdom as their peak.
All skilful practices have liberation as their heartwood.
All skilful practices gain a footing in the deathless.
All skilful practices have Nibbana as their culmination.

[allvideO]

here is one where it seems the translator has used the wrong meaning:

Yes. This is the way I was understanding the meaning of Dhamma. Also I was feeling it quite vague and problematic.

for me, it should read something like as follows: Agree. I noticed that you mention in another thread about "natual truth" and natural truth, as truth, leads to realize skilful practices. To understand the teachings of Buddha as just the outline of a natural truth and through this, a great relieve is felt from being attached to the idea of "buddhism" as something self contained.

Seems I am having hard time with Thanissaro translations.

Thanks Element,