Reading books on dharma is considered a form of meditation. The teachings of the Buddha, often referred to as the Dharma, are closely associated with truth and can be personally experienced and verified by one's senses. This experiential aspect of the Dharma is emphasized in Buddhist practice, alongside meditation and action.
The Dharma is not just about religious tenets but also about ethical actions and the development of qualities and states of mind that lead to the end of suffering. It is about mental development and liberation from greed, hatred, and delusion.
When reading books on Dharma, it is important to approach them with an open and non-judgmental mindset, free from assumptions. One should focus on understanding the logical structure of the text and how it connects with one's observations and personal experiences.
By studying the Dharma, one can gain clarity and confidence, sharpen their intellect, and protect themselves from becoming dull or complacent. It is a dynamic practice that complements meditation and helps cultivate mindfulness and compassion in everyday life.
What You'll Learn
- Reading dharma is one of three ways to become one with the Buddhist teachings, the other two being meditation and action
- Dharma is associated with truth and can be experienced by oneself
- Dharma is about developing the mind and cultivating beneficial qualities
- Dharma is about letting go of attachments and practicing non-harming
- Dharma is about recognizing and transforming negative habit energies
Reading dharma is one of three ways to become one with the Buddhist teachings, the other two being meditation and action
Reading Dharma: One of Three Ways to Become One with Buddhist Teachings
The word "Dharma" is closely associated with the Buddhist teachings of the Buddha himself. The teachings are also referred to as "the path of liberation", as they are practical and lead to the end of suffering. The Buddha avoided metaphysical and speculative ideas, instead focusing on perspectives and practices that lead to liberation from suffering.
Meditation, Study, and Action:
Reading Dharma is indeed one of three ways to become one with the Buddhist teachings. The other two ways are meditation and action. This trio of meditation, study, and action is a system of checks and balances, with each component supporting and challenging the other two.
Meditation:
Meditation is a vital aspect of the Buddhist path, helping to bring the teachings of the Buddha alive. It is a non-conceptual practice that complements the disciplines of study and action. Meditation retreats are offered by organisations such as the Insight Meditation Society (IMS), which is rooted in the Theravada teachings of ethics, concentration, and wisdom.
Study:
Studying the Buddhist teachings is different from learning other subjects, as it is meant to change the individual. Study builds clarity and confidence, sharpens the intellect, and protects against complacency. It is a dynamic practice that works in tandem with meditation. When meditation becomes too "spacey", study can bring clarity and brightness to the experience.
Action:
While meditation and study are important for cultivating mindfulness and compassion, the real test is how these qualities are expressed in everyday life. The component of action is about how mindfulness and kindness are demonstrated in relationships, work, and behaviour. It is the expression of the teachings in the world, ensuring that they are not divorced from daily life.
Close Reading of Dharma Texts:
A suggested practice for studying Dharma is "close reading" or "active reading", which can be done individually or in groups. This involves choosing a text, settling the mind, and reading with a fresh approach, free of assumptions. The reader should focus on discovering the logical structure, examining each paragraph, and connecting the teachings to their own observations and experiences.
In conclusion, reading Dharma is indeed one of three ways to become one with the Buddhist teachings, alongside meditation and action. These three practices support and challenge each other, allowing the Dharma to become a part of one's life.
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Dharma is associated with truth and can be experienced by oneself
Dharma, a key concept in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, has multiple meanings and has evolved over millennia. The term is commonly understood as referring to behaviours aligned with the "order and custom" sustaining life, "virtue", or "religious and moral duties". In Buddhism, dharma is closely associated with the teachings of the Buddha, often referred to as the "Dharma," which is tied to the concept of truth.
The Buddha's teachings, or Dharma, are practical and focused on liberation from suffering. He emphasised knowing and seeing, stating that his teachings were "directly visible" and something one could experience for oneself. The Buddha avoided metaphysical and speculative ideas, instead offering guidance on perspectives and practices leading to the end of suffering. He taught about the elimination of speculative views, attachments, and craving, and the cultivation of qualities and states of mind that reduce suffering.
The Buddha's Dharma is accessible and verifiable, as illustrated by the quote:
> The Dharma is well proclaimed by the Blessed One; it is visible here and now, immediate, inviting to be seen for oneself, onward leading, and to be personally realised by the wise.
This quote highlights that the Dharma is not just an abstract concept but something tangible and observable in one's own mind and experience. It is through introspection and self-realisation that one can truly understand and embody the Dharma.
The path to realising the Dharma involves meditation, study, and action. Meditation helps to ground and refocus the mind, while study sharpens the intellect and protects against complacency. Action, or behaviour, is the manifestation of the Dharma in one's everyday life, relationships, and work. It is through this trio of meditation, study, and action that the Dharma becomes integrated into one's life and one experiences its truth.
In conclusion, Dharma is indeed associated with truth and can be experienced by oneself. By studying the Buddhist teachings, engaging in meditation, and applying these principles in daily life, one can embody the Dharma and experience its liberating nature.
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Dharma is about developing the mind and cultivating beneficial qualities
Dharma: Developing the Mind and Cultivating Beneficial Qualities
Dharma is a complex and multifaceted concept in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. While there is no single-word translation in English, it generally refers to behaviours and principles that sustain life and promote harmony, often summarised as the "right way of living". Dharma is about developing the mind and cultivating beneficial qualities that lead to liberation from suffering and spiritual growth.
The Many Meanings of Dharma
The term "dharma" has multiple meanings and interpretations across different Indian religions and philosophical schools. In Hinduism, dharma is associated with "order and custom", denoting behaviours that are in accord with Ṛta, the cosmic principles that bring order to the universe. This includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues, and the "right way of living". In Buddhism, dharma refers to the teachings of the Buddha, also known as "cosmic law and order". In Jainism, dharma encompasses the teachings of Tirthankara and the purification and moral transformation of humans. For Sikhs, dharma signifies the path of righteousness and proper religious practices.
Developing the Mind
Dharma is not just about following a set of rules or performing certain actions. It is also about developing the mind and cultivating beneficial qualities. In the Buddhist tradition, the Dhammapada, a collection of the Buddha's teachings, emphasises the importance of "purifying one's mind" and developing the mind to end suffering. Similarly, in Hinduism, dharma includes cultivating qualities such as dispassion, simplicity, modesty, contentment, and persistence, leading to a peaceful and liberated mind.
Cultivating Beneficial Qualities
The qualities cultivated through dharma vary depending on the specific tradition and context. In Hinduism, for example, the Bhagavat Purana outlines four aspects of righteous living: austerity, purity, compassion, and truthfulness. Manusmriti, a Hindu text, prescribes ten rules for the observance of dharma, including patience, forgiveness, honesty, sanctity, and truthfulness. In Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path teaches eight essential qualities or factors for the realisation of dharma, including right understanding, right thought, and right action.
Meditation and Study
Meditation and study are integral aspects of dharma. Through meditation, individuals can cultivate mindfulness and compassion, while study helps to build clarity and confidence. These two practices complement each other, with meditation grounding individuals when they become too caught up in concepts and study providing clarity when meditation becomes too "spacey". Together, they create a dynamic duo that allows dharma to seep into all aspects of life.
Action and Behaviour
Dharma is not just about what we think or believe, but also about how we behave and act in the world. The component of action is crucial, as it is through our actions that we express the mindfulness and compassion cultivated through meditation and study. This includes our relationships, work, and everyday behaviour. By putting dharma into practice, we can transform our lives and create a more peaceful and harmonious world.
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Dharma is about letting go of attachments and practicing non-harming
Reading books on Dharma is considered a form of studying Buddhist teachings, which is one way to engage with the Dharma, alongside meditation practice and behaviour.
The Dharma is a set of teachings and practices of the Buddha, but it also refers to the natural truths, laws and processes of the path of practice he taught. The Dharma is about letting go of attachments and practicing non-harming.
The Buddha taught that his Dharma was "clear, open, evident, and free of patchwork". He avoided metaphysical and speculative ideas in favour of practical teachings that serve the path of liberation. The Buddha emphasised perspectives and practices that lead to the end of suffering. He taught that the path to liberation was about removing and uprooting speculative views, determinations, biases, adherences, underlying tendencies, mental constructs, attachments, craving, and delusion.
The Four Noble Truths are an important Dharma teaching. These perspectives are based on the simple principle that if you stop doing something that is causing harm, the harm will cease. However, this principle is challenging because of all the forms of self-harm that are not easy to stop, such as addictions to desires, compulsions towards anger, obsessions with fear, and attachments to self. These are referred to as "clinging or craving" in Buddhist shorthand.
Letting go of attachments and practicing non-harming is at the core of the Dharma. The Buddha taught that a wise person does not intend harm to themselves or others but instead intends benefit for themselves, for others, and for the whole world. The Dharma is a path of harmlessness that can help us discover a peace that we only experience when we aren't causing suffering to ourselves or others. This peace is called Liberation or Awakening.
The Dharma is not something outside of oneself, nor is it an external power or a personal possession. It is a process that exists only when activated, through certain behaviours and skills. The way the Dharma arises can be compared to floating in freshwater. Floating is a learned skill that depends on having both the intention to float and the skill to do so. Once mastered, being supported by the water can seem effortless. Similarly, the skill that allows the Dharma to arise and support us includes letting go of what undermines that support.
The essence of the Dharma way of life is a devotion to non-harming. It is easy to harm others and ourselves with our thoughts, self-concepts, and emotional reactions, and it is difficult to overcome the causes of these mental activities. The Dharma helps us minimise such harm and its causes.
The Eightfold Path encapsulates the Buddhist practices of non-harming that bring forth the Dharma in our lives. These eight practices include wise understanding of what causes suffering, living ethically so we don't cause harm, and developing mental capacities such as mindfulness and concentration so that we can let go of the deep mental roots of clinging.
The more our practice reveals the Dharma, the less sense it makes to take credit for the Dharma working through us. It is our task to open the fist in our heart so we can be refreshed by the Dharma, by the winds of compassion, wisdom, and freedom.
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Dharma is about recognizing and transforming negative habit energies
The teachings of the Buddha are often referred to as the Dharma, a word closely associated with "truth". When the Buddha taught the essence of his Dharma, he avoided metaphysical and speculative ideas in favor of practical teachings that serve the path of liberation. He emphasized perspectives and practices that lead to the end of suffering, stating, \"I teach suffering and the end of suffering."
The Buddhist practice is based on the insight of non-duality: recognizing that you are both the negative habit energy and the mindfulness that can transform it. This negative habit energy, called "vasana" in Sanskrit, is the cumulative mental and emotional imprints of prior habitual thoughts and actions. It is transmitted to us by our ancestors and can be very powerful, often pushing us to do or say things we don't want.
To transform these negative habit energies, we must first recognize and acknowledge their existence within us. We can do this through mindfulness, which is a form of energy that helps us be aware of what is going on in the present moment. When the negative habit energy arises, we can greet it with mindfulness, saying, "Hello, my little habit energy, I know you are there. I will take good care of you." By recognizing and embracing the habit energy, we can begin to transform it without having to fight against ourselves.
The practice of mindfulness can be applied to any daily activity, such as drinking water, breathing, walking, cooking, or even cutting carrots. When we perform these activities with mindfulness, we are fully present and alive, and we can profit from the joy and stability they bring. Through mindfulness, we can also recognize and embrace our negative energies, bringing relief and causing them to lose some of their strength.
In addition to mindfulness, the Buddhist teachings also emphasize the importance of ethical actions and mental development. The Buddha taught that we should engage in what is skillful and purify our minds. He encouraged qualities such as not disparaging others, practicing restraint, knowing moderation, dwelling in solitude, and pursuing higher states of mind.
By studying the Dharma, practicing meditation, and applying its teachings in our daily lives, we can transform our negative habit energies and move towards liberation from suffering.
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Frequently asked questions
Dharma is a Sanskrit word closely associated with "truth" and refers to the teachings of the Buddha.
The core principles of the Buddha's teachings are that they must be personally accessible, verifiable, and something one can know for oneself.
The three ways of becoming one with the Dharma are through meditation, study, and action.
The best way to read Dharma texts is through "close reading" or "active reading", which involves settling one's mind, reading the text multiple times, and focusing on logical structure, underlying assumptions, and personal connections.