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The word Dharma also represents the Buddhist [[concept]]ion of the "[[source]]", [[substratum]], "[[womb]]" or "[[matrix]]" of the [[universe]], which is referred to by the [[Sanskrit]] term "Garbha" as seen in one of the three Sanskrit words for the "[[ultimate]]": 1. "Dharmakaya", 2.  "Tathagata Garbha" and 3. "Dharma Dhatu". These three words are all represented by the word "[[Dharma#2._Dharmakaya_-_Tathagata_Garbha_-_Dharma_Dhatu_as_Source_of_the_Universe|Dharma]]".  These are the [[ultimate]] [[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 [[causation|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". These terms imply [[timeless]], [[eternal]]ity, [[omniscience]], [[omnipotence]], [[omnipresence]], [[inscrutable|inscrutability]] and [[immutability]].

The word Dharma also represents the Buddhist [[concept]]ion of the "[[source]]", [[substratum]], "[[womb]]" or "[[matrix]]" of the [[universe]], which is referred to by the [[Sanskrit]] term "Garbha" as seen in one of the three Sanskrit words for the "[[ultimate]]": 1. "Dharmakaya", 2.  "Tathagata Garbha" and 3. "Dharma Dhatu". These three words are all represented by the word "[[Dharma#2. Dharmakaya - Tathagata Garbha - Dharma Dhatu as Source of the Universe|Dharma]]".  These are the [[ultimate]] [[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 [[causation|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". These terms imply [[timeless]], [[eternal]]ity, [[omniscience]], [[omnipotence]], [[omnipresence]], [[inscrutable|inscrutability]] and [[immutability]].

===3. Dharma with a lowercase D - All Phenomena===

===3. Dharma with a lowercase D - All Phenomena===

===Ten Meanings of Dharma===

===Ten Meanings of Dharma===

There are ten meanings for the word [[Dharma]] according to the Buddhist [[monk]] Vasubandhu in his ''The Principles of Elucidation'' (Sanskrit ''Vyakhyayukti''):<br><ref>[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Dharma Rigpa Shedra  on Dharma] Accessed January 3, 2014</ref>

There are ten meanings for the word Dharma according to the Buddhist [[monk]] Vasubandhu in his ''The Principles of Elucidation'' (Sanskrit ''Vyakhyayukti''):<br><ref>[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Dharma Rigpa Shedra  on Dharma] Accessed January 3, 2014</ref>

# An object of [[knowledge]] (Sanskrit ''jñeya''),<br>

# An object of [[knowledge]] (Sanskrit ''jñeya''),

# the [[path]] (''marga''),<br>

# the [[path]] (''marga''),

# [[Nirvana]],<br>

# [[Nirvana]],

# A mental object (''manoviṣaya''),<br>

# A mental object (''manoviṣaya''),

# [[Merit]],<br>

# [[Merit]],

# Life (''āyu''),<br>

# Life (''āyu''),

# [[Teaching]]s of the [[Buddha]], or its [[scripture]]s (''dharmapravacana''),<br>

# [[Teaching]]s of the [[Buddha]], or its [[scripture]]s (''dharmapravacana''),

# What is subject to [[age]] or [[change]], i.e. material objects,<br>

# What is subject to [[age]] or [[change]], i.e. material objects,

# [[Rule]]s, [[law]]s or [[religious]] [[vow]]s, and<br>

# [[Rule]]s, [[law]]s or [[religious]] [[vow]]s, and

# Spiritual [[tradition]]s (''dharmanīti'').<br>

# Spiritual [[tradition]]s (''dharmanīti'').

All ten of these meansing are connected with the sense of ‘holding’, which is the meaning of ''dhṛ'', the root of the word dharma.

All ten of these meansing are connected with the sense of ‘holding’, which is the meaning of ''dhṛ'', the root of the word dharma.

==See Also==

==See also==

{{Template:Buddhist topics}}

{{Buddhist topics}}

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{{Template:Indian philosophy topics}}

{{Indian philosophy topics}}

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category : Buddhism]]

[[Category:Buddhism]]

[[Category : Taoism]]

[[Category:Taoism]]

[[Category : Hinduism]]

[[Category:Hinduism]]

[[Category : Dharmic Religions]]

[[Category:Dharmic Religions]]