Introduction
According to the teachings of Buddha, the Dharma (Dhamma) is regarded as a cosmic law that establishes order in society. In his teachings, Buddha once said, ‘the cessation of greed, hate and delusion is the Amata-Dhamma’. The Amata-Dhamma is the state of being immortal.
By deduction, therefore, in presence of greed, hate and delusion or the love of worldly material things, there is the mortal state, or that which can die. According to Buddha, the state of immortality can only be acquired through human deeds that are in accordance with this cosmic law. This essay will strive to explain the concept of the Dharma and how the claims can be understood.
Understanding the Claims
Where is the Buddha?
The Buddha is in the Dhamma.
Where is the Dhamma?
The Dhamma is in the Buddha.
Right here, now!
Where is the Sangha?
The Sangha is in the Dhamma.
From the excerpt of the Itivuttaka, constant longings, being covetous, harboring evil at heart, living life unmeasured and lack of diligence when adopting religion are seen as the characteristics of those who see the Dhamma. By acquiring or seizing these characteristics, an individual is not in one accord with the cosmic law.
Such a person does not have the attributes of hate, evil thoughts and desires. Through seeing the Dharma, a person’s nature becomes nirvana or deathless, without memory of neither evil nor discrimination.
Moral Qualities and Dhamma
The Dhamma and morality cannot be separated from one another. Buddha observed that if conscience is combined with morality, then it results in fruit of good to humanity. Wisdom combined with conscience or awareness bears well. In fact, when the mind acts under the control of wisdom and morality, it bears freedom from the corruptions of sensual nature and false views, which are characterized by a high level of ignorance.
Thus, the relationship between morality and the Dhamma, as seen from the above, is an integral part of our daily lives. He or she who abides by the moral codes with diligence, is without fear, a good person who will have eternal life. Since one of the major objectives of the Dhamma is to gain control over our senses, it becomes critical that a moral code whose practice can restrain man from absolute actions be availed.
Seeing Dhamma
The Buddha once asked,
Where is the Buddha?
The Buddha is in the Dhamma.
Where is the Dhamma?
The Dhamma is in the Buddha.
Right here, now!
Where is the Sangha?
The Sangha is in the Dhamma.
Therefore, the Dhamma is everything and everywhere. All people who diligently seek with a contrite heart can see the Dhamma. This could be a notion in the mind that arises and goes away. If one cannot have his or her mind, soul and the physical into one, he or she cannot ‘see’.
If one ‘sees’, he or she is able to proclaim the Dhamma in the physical and virtual forms. What is not the Dhamma is that which does not exist. It can be asserted that ‘seeing’ the Dhamma is not subject to being distant or closer to him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dhamma still exists in every moment and every act that we undertake. In this context, the Dhamma can take either the physical form and the mind form. The physical Dhamma can be achieved through physical means or the mind-based Dharma can be realized through the purity of our minds, which requires harboring no evil in our hearts.