In the funny and lighthearted modern interpretation and westernization of the Dharma principle – a man and a woman, two polar opposites in all aspects, meet on a train and get married on a first date in order to create “Dharma & Greg” sitcom. There is also a whole other stream that sticks the heavy label of religious principle on the notion of “Dharma” as well.

Dharma is not a religion, it is not a manmade construct or a movement, it is not a part of the vocabulary you introduce to seem more spiritual or “woke”, as the young would say. Dharma is often associated to duty, a sort of the mission one has to fulfill over the course of their lifetime, but this is also not entirely correct because it doesn’t take into consideration the root of the word – the Sanskrit word “dhri” meaning that which supports the “rta” – the natural law or the natural order of things. So dharma is the supporting structure that upholds the natural order of the universe, it is a law of nature and not a religion to hold on to. It is more a suggestion and an opening showing you what to align your personhood with in order to live the fullest life as well as for the societies, comprised of individuals, to function properly with the least amount of suffering. Suffering comes from not adhering to the natural laws of life. Dharma is a fluid notion that doesn’t box you in but releases you once you understand that your dharma is unique and dependent on your personal interests and affinities and it “wants” you to thrive as you, to fulfill YOUR path the best you can, even if you’ll stumble rather than copy someone else’s dharma.

You get pointers in order to uphold the moral conduct that will elevate you to the best version of you and in turn pull the whole of society up as well. There are 10 core principles to do so: dhriti (perseverance), kshama (patience), dama (self-control), asteya (refrainment from theft), shauch (purity), indrya nigrah (control over senses), dhi (reasoning), vidya (learning), satya (truthfulness), akrodha (absence of anger). These are universal principles that apply to all but vary in individual life manifestations and will determine the path you’ll be likely to take by the prevalence of the gunas (tendencies) you have within. Sattva is the tendency towards purity and truth, rajas is a tendency towards action and activity and tamas a tendency towards inaction. The different combinations and interplay of these elements will determine to which of the 4 wide loosely described categories of Varna (the fluid social structure) you’ll belong to and which life path you’ll take in following your true dharma.

This poker of categories pointing to our personal destines according to the dharma law will be explored in one of the following posts in more depth, as the goal of today was just to truly understand dharma as natural law and the suggested optimal set of instructions for a functional society and a fulfilled life. It is not a religion, not a part of the new age lexicon to be thrown around. It is the law of being as one self, showing up as you are and doing your best to use your natural gift to rise above personal pettiness and for the good of all. Dharma is very much reflected in your actions. You are what you do, not what you’ll say you’ll do, so roll out that mat and do your practice.