noun
dharma
DAH-muh
noun
1
In Hinduism and related traditions, the natural order of the universe, or the moral law that upholds it.
"She said that living honestly, even when it costs you, is part of her dharma."
"The ancient texts describe dharma as the thread that holds society and the cosmos together."
2
In Buddhism, the Buddha's teachings, especially as a path toward enlightenment.
"He spent a year at the monastery studying the dharma."
How to Use Dharma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person's duty or the right way to live, according to Hindu or Buddhist teaching — or, more broadly, the moral order of the universe.
Memory tip
Think of dharma as "your proper role and the right way to fulfill it," whether that's a personal duty or a spiritual teaching.
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Common pairings
follow your dharma
the teachings of dharma
live according to dharma
Word Forms
dharmas plural
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She said that living honestly, even when it costs you, is part of her _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit dharma, "that which upholds or supports," related to the Pali word dhamma.