DHAMMA - A Guide to Buddhism A to Z

Dhamma, Sanskrit dharma, is a word with multiple meanings. Generally it is used to refer to the whole corpus of the Buddha's teachings. In this sense it is the the Dhamma is the second of the three Refuges. It is also used in the sense of 'truth,' 'actuality' or 'the way things are.' In the word abhidhamma, and dhammānupassanā, it means 'things' or 'objects,' particularly mental objects, i.e. thoughts and emotions. Another common meaning of dhamma is 'justice' or 'righteousness.' Thus, in the Buddhist tradition, a good or righteous king was called Dhammarāja. The Dhamma in the sense of the Buddha's teachings is described as 'seen here and now, timeless, inviting investigation, leading onwards, to be understood by the wise, each for themselves' (M.I,37). The Buddha said that the Dhamma is 'lovely in the beginning, lovely in the middle and lovely in the end' (Vin.I,20) and that 'the gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts' (Dhp.354). Some centuries after the Buddha, King Aśoka defined the ethical dimension of the Dhamma very beautifully as: 'little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity.'

	DHAMMA
	Dhamma, Sanskrit dharma, is a word with multiple meanings. Generally it is used to refer to the whole corpus of the Buddha's teachings. In this sense it is the the Dhamma is the second of the three Refuges. It is also used in the sense of 'truth,' 'actuality' or 'the way things are.' In the word *abhidhamma, and dhammānupassanā, it means 'things' or 'objects,' particularly mental objects, i.e. thoughts and emotions. Another common meaning of dhamma is 'justice' or 'righteousness.' Thus, in the Buddhist tradition, a good or righteous king was called Dhammarāja. The Dhamma in the sense of the Buddha's teachings is described as 'seen here and now, timeless, inviting investigation, leading onwards, to be understood by the wise, each for themselves' (M.I,37). The Buddha said that the Dhamma is 'lovely in the beginning, lovely in the middle and lovely in the end' (Vin.I,20) and that 'the gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts' (Dhp.354). Some centuries after the Buddha, King Aśoka* defined the ethical dimension of the Dhamma very beautifully as: 'little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity.'		Search BuddhismAtoZ.com