Dharma has to be one of the trickiest concepts to define, and as the author mentioned, has changed a lot with time.

Related to the verb-noun thing, and rather important in the Vedic period, is the notion of Ṛta. One way of defining dharma is doing whatever is required to uphold Ṛta, which is universal law. I quite like this definition since it doesn't prescribe specific actions in itself but acts a cautionary principle for all actions.

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Rta?

Wiki is pretty good

African Tribesmen Can Talk Birds Into Helping Them Find Honey

For the lazy, Wikipedia:

>In the Vedic religion, Ṛta (/ɹ̩ta/; Sanskrit ऋत ṛta "order, rule; truth; logos") is the principle of natural order which regulates and coordinates the operation of the universe and everything within it. In the hymns of the Vedas, Ṛta is described as that which is ultimately responsible for the proper functioning of the natural, moral and sacrificial orders. Conceptually, it is closely allied to the injunctions and ordinances thought to uphold it, collectively referred to as Dharma, and the action of the individual in relation to those ordinances, referred to as Karma – two terms which eventually eclipsed Ṛta in importance as signifying natural, religious and moral order in later Hinduism. Sanskrit scholar Maurice Bloomfield referred to Ṛta as "one of the most important religious conceptions of the Rigveda, going on to note that, "from the point of view of the history of religious ideas we may, in fact we must, begin the history of Hindu religion at least with the history of this conception"

This is super cool. Thanks for sharing.

Can someone post this? Pay walled

I think people back then were just fed up with the barbarism of their feudal lords, kings and rulers. lol

Somebody back then thought it would be better if we just work together to increase quality of life instead of hurting each other for the sake of a few on the top.

But the problem is they didnt think it through, because total nonviolence pacificism is how you become slaves for generations.

The Japanese took this idea and modified it into the Warrior Monk mindset, which is great until it became corrupted with a more violent Samurai bushido, lol.

The modern iteration of this is the Marvel Superhero mindset, where you advocate for all the good shit but still ready to defend them with strength when required.

So we should all learn from Superheroes. lol

Thanks for actually posting the definition, I was lazy.

The paragraph also highlights another interesting facet of Vedic religion. Ṛta has sacrifice as an input, and the sacrificial order is a microcosm of the universe. You can track the evolution of dharma alongside the change from ritual to more philosophical thought in the late Vedic era.

A neat trick I learned is to go to www.removepaywall.com , and paste any paywalled link and see if it works. This one does.

I don't think so. The actual goal is to be philosophical zombie:

-Reverend Nagasena, what is the difference between the lustful man and the man free from lusts?

• My King, the man free of lusts experiences the taste only of the food. The lustful man experiences both the taste and the pleasure of the food.

Interesting to see the Greek “Logos” in the definition.

I’m curious how similar this is to the conception of the Dao.

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Marvel is best case scenario if super heros were a thing. Check out The Boys on Amazon. Turns out people + powers are still people with the same ethical chinks.

Is there not a third option here, to experience both the pleasure of food and the pleasure of its absence?

any paywalled link and

Robert Pirsig would adore this comment chain if he were alive to read it

I feel that all religious stories are meant to be understood in principle not literally or in a dogmatic way. I also think there is great wisdom in many of these stories that can be taken and applied to daily life. Moral dilemmas are difficult, but if we take time to listen to our inner voice and compass, our timeless awareness, usually the truth will emerge. Once we clear away the barriers insight will emerge and our way forward will become clear and luminous. As a self-recognized Buddhist, my interpretation of the word “dharma” is that it is the principles and timeless truths that uphold our universe and reality. Truths that are truly immortal and answer to no one. Upon these truths our lives flow. To tap into these leads to the freedom of our souls.

You better search what philosophical zombie is.

I know what it is, I'm saying there's a way other than being a philosophical zombie.

I’ve got his book! It comes highly recommended although I don’t know the first thing about motorcycles.

Trust me, that book is actually about everything EXCEPT motorcycles, you don’t need to know anything about them

recommended although I don’t know the first

I know ;)

The short answer:

They're similar in the sense of taking a walk through a forest in NH and taking a walk through a forest in Germany.

Interesting read, thanks for sharing