Motion
see: Adharma [motionless]
Religion
Perfect stability, right action, truth in action, righteousness, morality, virtue. law.
See also: Dharmya, Dharmya Dhyan.One of the six basic substances.
That which causes transformation of the soul into the perfect soul is called dharma or religion. [Acharya Tulsi]
- arjagara dharma - the religion of the monks and nuns.
- sagara dharma - the religion of the householders.
In general:
'Dharma' is cognate with the Latin 'firmus', the origin of the word 'firm'. Meanings related to law, morality, scripture, and teachings were probably acquired through analogy, by being regarded as firm and called as such.
In scripture, dharma is often best left untranslated, as it has acquired a lively life of its own that is more expressive than any simplistic translation.
Common translations and glosses include 'right way of living', 'Divine Law', 'Path of Righteousness', 'order', 'faith', 'natural harmony', 'rule', 'fundamental' and 'duty'.
Dharma may be used to refer to 'rules' of the operation of the mind or universe in a metaphysical system, or to rules of comportment in an ethical system.