Where did the word dhamma come from? Was it used before the time of buddha? Or did the buddha invent it?
Has the word been adopted by other religions or its a word/language that is only used in Buddhism?
origin of dhamma?
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Re: origin of dhamma?
the language spoken by Buddha is unknown
it was translated into Pali
I find this comforting as I dislike Pali
it was translated into Pali
I find this comforting as I dislike Pali
Re: origin of dhamma?
The word 'dharma' was used before the time of buddha, such as in the Brahmanism scripture Rigveda (a scripture mentioned in the Pali suttas as existing before the Buddha). From Wikipedia, it means:
In the history of Buddhism, one of the first five disciples, Assaji, was met by Sariputta (who would become the Buddha's chief disciple). Sariputta, a non-Buddhist, asks:The Classical Sanskrit noun dharma is a derivation from the root dhṛ, which means "to [up]hold, maintain, keep", and takes a meaning of "what is established or firm", and hence "law". It is derived from an older Vedic Sanskrit n-stem dharman-, with a literal meaning of "bearer, supporter", in a religious sense conceived as an aspect of Rta.
In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, dhárman-, with a range of meanings encompassing "something established or firm" (in the literal sense of prods or poles). Figuratively, it means "sustainer" and "supporter" (of deities). It is semantically similar to the Greek Themis ("fixed decree, statute, law").[17] In Classical Sanskrit, the noun becomes thematic: dharma-.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma
The word is used in most Indian religions:"Serene are your features, friend. Pure and bright is your complexion. Under whom, friend, have you gone forth as an ascetic? Who is your teacher and whose doctrine (dhamma) do you profess?"
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/aut ... 090.html#i
I personally prefer to focus on the root meaning, highlight above, namely, "upholder, supporter, maintainer, sustainer". This allows giving a common meaning to the different common contextual uses of dhamma, such as "phenomena", "law", "truth", "practise", "path", "teachings", "doctrine", etc. In other words, dhamma such as phenomena, law, truth, practise, path, etc, are dhammas because they "uphold", "sustain", "maintain" or "support" life so life is free from suffering. Thus, the most important meaning of "dhamma" is its soteriological (salvation; survival) purpose.Dharma is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. It has multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma
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Re: origin of dhamma?
I love pali, Why do you not like it?cappuccino wrote: ↑Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:48 pm the language spoken by Buddha is unknown
it was translated into Pali
I find this comforting as I dislike Pali
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Re: origin of dhamma?
If dhamma is not a construct, what does it feel like once realised within. Is it different to different body types and senses, I wonder. Is it throughout the body or more central to the senses, nerves...
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Re: origin of dhamma?
I prefer Sanskrit
Nirvana rather than Nibbana, etc.
Re: origin of dhamma?
From what I've read Pali is important as Sanskrit was an exclusive Brahmin caste language and that Pali was to differentiate Buddhists from Brahmins and their caste system. I'm not sure how valid this is, but I read this from PhD scholar on Buddhism a while ago.