#  Dharma 

 



*Dharma* means religion, religious duty, religious teaching. The word *dharma* comes from a Sanskrit root meaning “to uphold, support, bear,” thus *dharma* is that order of things which informs the whole world, from the laws of nature to the inner workings of conscience. For the Buddhist tradition, the *Dharma* (or *Dhamma* in Pali) refers especially to the teachings of the Buddha. This body of teachings constitutes one element of the “Three Jewels” in which Buddhists take refuge: the Buddha, the *Dharma*, and the *Sangha* (the community). For Hindus, *dharma* means righteous conduct, religious obligation, or religious duty—either the eternal obligations (*sanatana dharma*) incumbent upon all humankind, or the obligations specific to one’s caste and stage of life (*varnashrama dharma*).