Nicole Murri
Religion or Dharma?
Even though we call the major religious tradition in India a "religion," the primary
sources of the tradition refer to it as “eternal Dharma.” From what I have learned from the world
religions, it's hard to disguise a true definition for religion and to fully understand each and every
one. With my previous work this semester, the textbook, and site visits, I can support my own
position on whether Hindu practices could be referred to as a "religion" or as "Dharma". I believe
that Hindu practices can be referred to as Dharma rather than religion.
What is Religion?
Religion can be found back as far as the creation of man, many argue that the creation of
man brought the creation of religion; some believe that religion brought the creation of man.
Other opinions can fall in-between, while others come from outside of the lines. There is no
doubt that with religion comes much debate, but the decision of what is religion is still a
questionable debate.
To start off, we must take a look in the material perspective. Karl Marx1 once had the
idea that religion originated from the oppressed, the thought that they created a deity that had the
ability to create a better life, but if it failed to do so, it became a sign of unfulfilled desires by
your own doing. He viewed religion as reasoning for the people to justify why they are unhappy
or why they have earned their happiness.2 Many others had the view that religion is conceived by
those who desire more from their lives. With the idea of desire came the idea of wanting or the
feeling of needing answers rather than the feeling of needing fulfillment.
1
For further reading on Karl Marx visit page 3 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary
Pat Fisher
2
On the matter of the Materialist Perspective, read chapter 1, to view more in-depth on Karl
Marx read page 3 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat Fisher.
Next, the functional perspective comes in. Throughout our lives we have searched for our
desires and our happiness, some have found them, and many may keep looking, but with that
searching comes many questions of existence. Many have asked and tried to find the answers to
why we exist and how we got on earth. The functional perspective answers some of those
questions. Emile Durkheim3 had the idea that religion was created to bring structure and order to
lives. It was there to teach us the social virtues of the world and to answer our desires and
questions for existence.4 It is debated that religion is needed for human survival and is needed to
fulfill the needs and desires of the human experience. Each perspectives give you the freedom to
view and experience religion in your own way. Any type of official belief can be called a
religion, but a religion such as Hinduism has certain and specific types of beliefs that affect their
everyday lives, which needs to be defined as much more than religion, and that's where Dharma
comes in.
What is Dharma?
Dharma: the principle of cosmic order; refers to a broad complex of meanings,
encompassing duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health and transcendental realization.5
For those that are new to the term Dharma, it can be broken down. To start off, Dharma is
used for order of mainly society and also within. For example, it determines duty, which is a
moral, legal obligation or responsibility. It determines a task or action that is required to be done.
3
For further reading on Emile Durkheim visit Page 4 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat
Fisher.
4
Others such as, John Bowker, Sigmund Freud, Erich Fromm, and Frederick Streng has similar ideas and
opinions to Emile Durkheim.
5
Definition of Dharma from Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat Fisher.
On the matter of the definition of Dharma, read chapter 3, to view more in-depth on the meaning of
Dharma read page 73 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat Fisher.
It can also determine what shouldn't be done and what is prohibited from being done. Duty can
also relate with ethics and order.
Next, natural law. Natural law can be defined as a system of beliefs that is believed to be
inherent in human and in their behavior, also inherent in nature and found by reason rather than
just logic. For example, many believe that natural law ties in with science, but others believe that
natural law is self-evident, or a given right. It is a belief that without natural law the society
would be in chaos.
Next, social welfare, which deals with healthiness, happiness, and richness of a group of
people. With this group also ties in with their belief in Karma.6 It is the belief that contributes to
how well off you are as an individual. It also contributes to how well you do as a whole, or as a
society. For example, if you had good Karma for your past life, (Reincarnation7) you will come
into the next life as a healthy, well-off individual due to your past actions. This was often the
reasoning and justification for the poor and the unhealthy.
Next is ethics, which is mainly your ideas of what should be considered "right," and what
should be considered as "wrong." Hinduism has developed over time what they believe to be
right and wrong. Without ethics, you cannot have progress in the spiritual path and no selfrealization. Ethics is also part of the foundation of the Hinduism Yoga,8 such as, Raja yoga,9
Jnana yoga,10 Karma yoga,11 and Bhakti yoga.12
6
For further reading on Karma visit page 80 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat Fisher.
The belief that your soul will travel on to another life, after death.
For further reading on reincarnation visit pages 79-80 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat
Fisher.
7
8
Comprises of many different types of yoga, such as, Raja yoga, Jnana yoga, Karma yoga, and Bhakti
yoga.
On the matter of the yoga, read chapter 3, to view more in-depth on the different types of yoga, read page
81-84 of Living Religions (Eighth Edition) by Mary Pat Fisher.
Next is health, which ties in with social welfare, which deals with healthiness, happiness,
and richness of a group of people. But, this time it is with the individual. Practices such as yoga,
and the different types, as mentioned before, and what you eat and what you do tie in with health.
With that it also means healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually. It is also important to stay
healthy as a society to maintain social order and prevent chaos and disorder.
Lastly, transcendental realization, which derives from many things but can be defined as
trying to find out what is "the self", what is "the body", and what is considered the "Absolute
Truth" of the religion of Hinduism. All of this can be found through meditation, yoga,
ceremonies, and many other things. All of the listed tie closely together to form Dharma and the
everyday lives of Hindus.
In conclusion, Dharma is considered to be one of the main importances of thought and
life to Hindus and it was clear to see during my site visit that it is just that. It is also believed to
mainly focus on the actions that promote on righteousness, order, and well-being within the
world. Others consider Dharma as a large path to liberation and detachment from worldly things
and actions. (Flood, Gavin). Dharma is a large and broad term with many components that deal
with a number of actions. It isn't simply a small matter or component of Hinduism, but rather a
larger, rewarding and complex way of spirituality and living. Any type of official belief can be
called a religion, but a religion such as Hinduism has a certain and specific type of belief that
effects their everyday lives. This is why it needs to be defined as much more than religion, and
why Hindu practices should be referred as eternal Dharma rather than simply religion.
9
The path of mental concentration.
A path to wisdom and knowledge.
11
Path to the personal sense of giving.
12
The path of devotion to a particular and personal deity.
10
Works Cited:
"Definitions of Religion." Definitions of Religion. Various, 2015. Web. 07 Sept. 2015.
Fisher, Mary Pat, and Joseph Alan. Adler. Living Religions. 8th ed. London: Laurence King Pub.,
2011. Print.
Flood, Gavin. PDF. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.