History glossary
dharma
the teaching, moral order or path central to Buddhist life.
- Category
- Religious idea
- Region
- South Asia
- Date range
- From early Buddhism onward
What it means
Dharma can mean teaching, truth, law or moral order. In Buddhism it refers especially to the Buddha's teaching and the path of practice; in Ashoka's inscriptions, dhamma also described a public ethic of compassion, restraint and respect.
Related terms
Stories using this term
The Rise and Spread of Buddhism
From the Buddha's awakening to Ashoka's patronage and missions to Sri Lanka, Buddhism grew from a northern Indian path into a faith with foundations across Asia.
The Maurya Empire
From Chandragupta's overthrow of the Nandas to Ashoka's edicts and the empire's fall, the Mauryas created the first imperial state to unite much of the Indian subcontinent.
