Philosophy · reviewed by a teacher
Dharma: order, duty and teaching
Dharma is a Sanskrit word for what holds things together: the order of the world, the right way to live within it, and a person's own duty. In Hinduism it covers law, ethics and duty. In Buddhism the Dharma is the Buddha's teaching itself, one of the Three Jewels.
What is dharma?
Dharma comes from the Sanskrit root dhri, to hold, to support or to bear. The word names what holds things up: the order that keeps the world steady, and the conduct that keeps a life and a community steady within it.
No single English word carries all of that, which is why it is translated as duty, law, righteousness, virtue, teaching or simply the right way, depending on the text.
You do not need any of this to start yoga. In yoga for complete beginners, the closest thing to dharma is learning what your own body needs, rather than copying someone else’s practice.
That idea, as you will see, is close to what the Bhagavad Gita says.
Where the idea comes from
In the Rig Veda, the related word dharman refers to what upholds the cosmos and its rituals.
Over time dharma became the central idea of Hindu ethics and law. The Dharmashastras, texts of law and conduct, set out duties for each stage of life and each social class, rules that many modern Hindus read critically and that vary greatly in practice.
The Bhagavad Gita opens with the word. Its first line places the scene on dharmakshetra, the field of dharma, the battlefield where Arjuna will face his own family.
When he wants to lay down his bow, Krishna’s answer turns on svadharma, one’s own duty. Twice the Gita says, in paraphrase, that it is better to do your own dharma imperfectly than another person’s well.
The full setting is on the page about the Gita’s dialogue and what it teaches about yoga.
Dharma in Buddhism
In Buddhism the word (dhamma in Pali) most often means the teaching of the Buddha, the truth that teaching points to, and the path it describes. It is one of the Three Jewels, with the Buddha and the community of practitioners.
The Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath is called the turning of the wheel of dharma, and the eight-spoked dharma wheel became one of Buddhism’s earliest symbols. In Buddhist philosophy the plural, dharmas, can also mean the basic elements of experience, a technical use worth knowing if you read further.
Dharma, karma and yoga
Dharma sits next to two other words. Karma is action and what follows from it, explained on the page on what karma means. Dharma is the right action for you, here. The Gita’s karma yoga joins them: do your dharma, and let the fruits go.
In the Yoga Sutras the word is not central, but the ethical guidelines that open the eight limbs, the yamas and niyamas, cover the same ground in practical form: non-harming, truthfulness, contentment and discipline.
How it shows up in a modern practice
Dharma is one of the yoga words that has travelled far beyond its texts. People speak of finding their dharma as a calling or life purpose. That reading is modern and looser than the original, but it keeps one true thread: the Gita’s insistence that the path has to be your own.
On the mat, the idea is quieter. Practise your own practice. Let the person on the next mat do theirs. Do the version of the pose your body can hold today.
How it can come up in a class
In a one-to-one session there is no one else’s practice to compare with, which makes the Gita’s advice easier to follow. In a group class, the same idea means keeping your eyes on your own mat.
A good teacher shapes the practice around your body and changes it as your week changes. If you are curious about the philosophy, many teachers are happy to talk about it before or after class.
If you are new, the guide to your first yoga class covers the basics. Other words on this page are explained in a plain Sanskrit glossary.
Questions
What is dharma in simple words?
The right way to act, for you, in your situation. In Hindu use it means duty and right living within a larger order. In Buddhist use it usually means the teaching of the Buddha.
Why is dharma sometimes spelled dhamma?
Dhamma is the Pali form of the same word, used in Theravada Buddhist texts and in countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. Dharma is the Sanskrit form. They mean the same thing.
What is the difference between dharma and karma?
Dharma is what is right to do, your duty and the order you live within. Karma is action and its consequences. The Bhagavad Gita puts them together: act according to your dharma, and let go of attachment to what the action earns you.
How do you find your own dharma?
The texts give no single test. The Gita speaks of svadharma, your own duty, shaped by your role and circumstances. Many modern readers take it to mean the work and responsibilities that are truly yours, done honestly, rather than a role borrowed from someone else.
What is the dharma wheel?
The dharmachakra, an eight-spoked wheel, is a Buddhist symbol of the Buddha's teaching. His first sermon, at Sarnath, is traditionally called the turning of the wheel of dharma. A version of the wheel sits at the centre of the flag of India.
What is svadharma?
Svadharma means your own dharma: the duty that fits your nature, role and stage of life. The Bhagavad Gita makes the point that it is better to follow your own dharma, even imperfectly, than to do someone else's well. Krishna uses this to urge Arjuna to act as a warrior rather than walk away from the battle.
What does Sanatana Dharma mean?
Sanatana Dharma means the eternal dharma, or the eternal order. Many Hindus use it as the traditional name for their religion, preferring it to the word Hinduism, which came into use much later. It expresses the idea that the teaching is timeless rather than founded at one moment by one person.