The Meanings of Dhamma

The Meanings of Dhamma

The Dhamma (Dharma) of life has four meanings:

1. Nature itself,
2. The law of nature,
3. The duty that must be performed according to that law of nature,
4. The fruits or benefits that arise from the performance of that duty.

Always keep these four interrelated meanings in mind. Please investigate that Truth within yourselves, in this body and mind that you imagine to be yourselves. Within each of us are various natures compounded into a body, into a being. Then there is the law of nature that controls those natures. And there is the duty (Noble Eightfold Path) that must be performed correctly by and for all things regarding the law of nature. Lastly, there are the results of the performance of that duty. If the duty is performed correctly, the result will be well-being, tranquility and ease...

... life is made up of just these four meanings of nature. Now, however, we have yet to understand them correctly and completely. We have not truly penetrated into the secret of what we call life. We have not grasped the secret of Dhamma, so we are unable to practise in a way that gets the fullest benefit from life. Let us take the time to study the Dhamma and "secret of life" enough that we may take advantage of them.

-Mindfulness with Breathing (Buddhadasa Bhikkhu)