10/08/2021
What is Dharma?
Literally, “that which is established” but generally etymologized as “that which holds or protects (us from suffering)” and hence brings happiness and leads us towards liberation and enlightenment. In Buddhism, absolute Dharma is the realizations attained along the path to liberation and enlightenment, and conventional Dharma is seen as both the teachings of the Buddha and virtuous actions.
“What is Dharma? In general, it means holding, or protecting, like the fence or rail that stops people from falling over a cliff.
However, Dharma is an inner method that requires the practice of meditation. And since we have thousands of different problems in our mind, there are thousands of meditation techniques for solving them. One method cannot solve all problems. We study Dharma in order to understand which meditation technique should be applied to solve which problem…
There is not a single method missing from the Dharma that cannot solve sentient beings’ problems. Therefore, Dharma is a complete method for protecting ourselves from problems and their cause and making our lives meaningful. When we know how to practice Dharma, we can protect ourselves from suffering. That is Dharma.
Even from this brief statement, you can see that the Dharma is not a limited method, like simply going to a temple or church. Dharma is something that we can practice day in and day out, no matter what else we are doing in our everyday life—working, eating, talking to people, sleeping and so forth—something that constantly guides us away from our delusions, the cause of suffering.”
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Some Thoughts on the Future of Buddhism
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