Katherine Portocarrero

RELS 2300-400-Sp17
Module 2: Essay on South Asian Religious Traditions

The term "Dharma" in Hinduism does not have one meaning, but many.

I would describe the meanings of Dharma as a way of living. A way of living

set by the Veda in order to live by certain principles to obtain Moksha which

is liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth that is known as Samsara.

The goal is to feel at peace and pure, therefore a wide range of guideline

variations have been set. Social coherence, good of all, ethics, and social

welfare are the focus; from rituals and meditation to castes and diet, the

main goal of Dharma is to live a just life, a life full of good values, morals,

and conduct in all the different stages of life (Fisher 72).

Birth as a human being is a privilege as seen from Hinduism

perspective, only through the life as a human does one get the opportunity

to achieve spiritual perfection.1 According to the beliefs of Hinduism

Dharma, it is said Moksha, takes a lifetime (Fisher 100).

Karma might be one of the most important concepts of Hindu Dharma,

which is also seen in the teaching of Buddhist Dharma. In Hinduism, Karma

entails the belief of the consequences to every action build our future

experiences. Not only our actions, but also every thought and desire has a

consequence in our future lives (Fisher 79).

 In order to understand Karma, one must understand Samsara. The

cycle of birth, death, and rebirth known as Samsara is defined as the concept

of reincarnation, this cycle of the soul leaving the body after death and

entering a new one countless times over,2 is thought to be ran by Karma.

Depending on how we act, our consequences will affect us not only in our

current life, but in the next reincarnations as well (Fisher 79). Therefore, the

main goal in under Dharma teachings in Hinduism, is to make sure one

adopts a way of living centered around ethical values in order to reach

liberation.

In a sense, the main focus of Buddhist Dharma is also liberation, which

is known as Nirvana. Buddha accepted some of the teachings form Hinduism,

and drew some concepts of Buddhist Dharma as a response to Hindu

Dharma. However, Buddha also rejected some concepts as well.

In Buddhism, Dharma is centered around being able to come to a

realization of the truth of existence, acceptance of suffering, known as

Dukkha, and aspire to lessen the suffering due to understanding and

accepting it (Fisher 140-141). Buddha teaches a way to come to this insight

by the pathway of the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path to

Liberation.3 Through these teachings one is able to perfect a path to obtain

peace of Nirvana by practicing a way of life free of non-virtuous actions and

focusing on being aware of every moment in the present, rather than the

unseen reality and life after death (Fisher 140-143).

 As in Hinduism, karma is also a concept accepted by Buddha but

taught in a different manner. In Buddhism, karma is not about living a good

life now, in order to make sure the consequences do not affect your next life

in a negative way. Karma in Buddhism is slightly similar, yet the teaching is

that of ones actions, thoughts, etc., shape ones life in the present, there is

no eternal soul which is reborn as it is taught in Hinduism (Fisher 143).

Buddhists belief of the wheel of birth, death, and rebirth takes form in

all types of beings, not just humans, therefore there is no eternal soul

continuing from life to the next life (Fisher 143). Buddha accepted the

teaching of Hinduism of there being a goal of liberation, in the case of

Buddhism, the ultimate goal is Nirvana. Liberation is still seen as the goal of

becoming free of Samsara, which still remains the same for Buddhism (the

wheel of birth, death, and rebirth),4 however, Buddhism teaches that the way

to reach Nirvana is not through adapting a way of living Dharma as in

Hinduism, yet it is of mediation, attaining insight into true existence of

reality, becoming unattached to the unseen reality of life after death, and

instead focus on the moment-by-moment of ones life (Fisher 146).

 Notes
1.
See Fisher, section on Life Stages 100-103, for a more detailed
description of each stage.
2.
The doctrine of reincarnation was expressed as a central doctrine of
Dharma in Hinduism by the Upanishads. Fisher 78.
3.
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path to Liberation
were sermons set forth by Buddha in order to aid human beings in
achieving the final goal of liberation. See Fisher 141-142 for explanation
of each of the four noble truths and each of the eight paths.
4.
Samsara is depicted by Buddha from Hinduism by the acceptance of
the same teachings, see Fisher 144.
 Works Cited

Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. Pearson Education. 7th ed., 2008.