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==''Dharma'' in Buddhism==

==''Dharma'' in Buddhism==

In [[Buddhism]], Dharma no longer has its [[Hindu]] meaning of [[religious]] [[duty]] according to one's [[caste]]. Instead it has several levels of meaning including: the [[teaching]]s of the [[Buddha]], which can be understood as:<ref>Epstein, Ron, ''Buddhism A to Z''. Burlingame, [[California]]: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 1999: pp.  54-55.</ref>

In [[Buddhism]], Dharma no longer has its [[Hindu]] meaning of [[religious]] [[duty]] according to one's [[caste]]. Instead it has several levels of meaning including: the [[teaching]]s of the [[Buddha]], which can be understood as:

# "Dharma with a capital D":  [[method]]s ([[Five schools of Buddhism|Five Schools]] of teachings and [[practice]]s) for becoming [[enlightenment|enlightened]].

# "Dharma with a capital D":  [[method]]s ([[Five schools of Buddhism|Five Schools]] of teachings and [[practice]]s) for becoming [[enlightenment|enlightened]].

#  "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu":  The [[reality]] that one realizes at [[enlightenment]]. These three Sanskrit words (especially "Dharmakaya") is the closest concept that [[Mahayana]] Buddhism has that fairly closely resembles the [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christian]] "[[creator]] [[God]]" although it is not accepted by [[Theravada]] Buddhists and is not well known among most common Buddhists who are neither serious scholars nor practitioners of the religion. This is why both many non-Buddhists and [[liberal]] beginner "Buddhists in name only" (see [[RINO]]) especially in America, misunderstand Buddhism thinking it denies the existence of God or a primary causative being of the [[universe]]. Those who suggest this misconception have not studied Buddhist esoteric [[Sutra]] teachings on these three terms "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu".

#  "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu":  The [[reality]] that one realizes at [[enlightenment]]. These three Sanskrit words (especially "Dharmakaya") is the closest concept that [[Mahayana]] Buddhism has that fairly closely resembles the [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christian]] "[[creator]] [[God]]" although it is not accepted by [[Theravada]] Buddhists and is not well known among most common Buddhists who are neither serious scholars nor practitioners of the religion. This is why both many non-Buddhists and [[liberal]] beginner "Buddhists in name only" (see [[RINO]]) especially in America, misunderstand Buddhism thinking it denies the existence of God or a primary causative being of the [[universe]]. Those who suggest this misconception have not studied Buddhist esoteric [[Sutra]] teachings on these three terms "Dharmakaya" - "Tathagata Garbha" - "Dharma Dhatu".

In [[Buddhism]], Dharma is used to refer to the [[teaching]]s ([[scripture]] as [[Sutra]] and [[Shastra]] ([[exegesis]] commentaries) of the [[Buddha]] ([[Sanskrit]] ''Buddhadharma''). It has many shades of meaning, including ‘the [[spiritual]] path’, or ‘[[spirituality]]’ in general. It also refers to [[phenomena]], meaning things and events. There are formally ten meanings of Dharma.

In [[Buddhism]], Dharma is used to refer to the [[teaching]]s ([[scripture]] as [[Sutra]] and [[Shastra]] ([[exegesis]] commentaries) of the [[Buddha]] ([[Sanskrit]] ''Buddhadharma''). It has many shades of meaning, including ‘the [[spiritual]] path’, or ‘[[spirituality]]’ in general. It also refers to [[phenomena]], meaning things and events. There are formally ten meanings of Dharma.

===Ten Meanings of Dharma===

===Ten Meanings of Dharma===