Dharma

(Sanskrit धर्म; Tibetan chö) A word with many levels of application. Dharma literally means “Law or Justice personified, righteousness, duty, merit, statue, practice, religion, observance, relating to justice or virtue, law, thing, ceremony, good works, character, propriety of conduct, morality or ethics, virtue.” Generally: the inner constitution of a thing, which governs its growth. Also, the Law or the Way. The Tibetan version chö implies “change” or “bringing transformation.” The spiritual teachings themselves are the Dharma. Likewise, the fruit of good actions, which we receive as compensation, is Dharma. Any great truth is Dharma. In common usage, the word Dharma refers to the teachings of the path to the end of suffering, and to the result of that path. One of the Three Jewels (Tri-ratna).