The Nature of Dharma

The word dharma has many meanings. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit dhr–, meaning to hold or to support. It refers to the law that sustains everything; from one’s life to society, and to the entire universe. Spelled with a lowercase d, dharma can simply denote “phenomena,” the things we perceive in form; the stuff of the world that supports our physical reality. In Buddhism, Dharma is sometimes spelled with a capital D and meant to denote the teachings and practices taught by the Buddha and other respected mentors. This supports our spiritual development.

If Dharma encompasses spiritual truths, this esoteric meaning serves as a significant guide to living in a body on this planet. The teachings of the great masters are designed to wake us up to the truth of our natural wisdom, and dharma practice in all its forms has a primary role here. I like to say dharma includes all the necessary things that point us toward living in accordance with our natural wisdom and compassion, which is everything—if we know how to recognize it.

So, ultimately, the dharma is in us and around us. There is nothing that is not dharma. I think that’s why it is so important to touch the earth in our search for the teachings and practices that are helpful in attaining clarity. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the ground of our unclouded understanding is associated with the elements, often depicted as the dance of the five wisdom dakinis: earth, water, fire, wind, and space. It is obvious we are made of those elements, but what about the wisdom they offer?

The ground of our wisdom is referred to as the dakini in Sanskrit or khandro in Tibetan which means “sky goer” or “sky dancer.” This is a feminine symbol of our wisdom nature, free of graspability. As a sky dancer, she pervades the space element, which is the container for the other four elements. Therefore, she interpenetrates the fabric of our existence, connecting us to all things material and non-material. No wonder it’s so important to recognize the dakini through our lived experience.

Sitting mindfully beside a flowing river, listening to the wind, sensing the earth supporting us, and feeling the sun on our face, places us in the dakini’s embrace. This is where dharma is born. Our responsibility is to honor that connection through diligent practice and service to nature and the beings who are nurtured by her presence. We are called to this work simply by being born. Anything else is a distraction from that work.