On "Dharma", Or the "Right Way to Live" -- Does it Exist?

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Beyond Dharma's Shadow

The concept of "Dharma," while still relevant in some spheres, isn't as imposed on individuals as it once was. Before the Industrial Revolution, societal, cultural, and religious structures largely dictated the course of one's life.

It can also be regarded as Karma, in contemporary English, as one of you have stated in the comments. I would say, from my observation, that Karma is necessarily Dharma, or a "cosmic law", but not every feature of Dharma has anything to do with Karma specifically.

As a common peasant, your path was mapped out from birth. You were raised within the confines of your community, expected to marry and build a family, and inevitably inherit your father's profession or business. Women faced even stricter limitations, educated for domestic lifeand child-raising within the confines of marriage.

While this era offered a sense of certainty and belonging, it came at the cost of individual freedom. While some may romanticize the simplicity of pre-modern life, I, as an individualist, wouldn't trade the autonomy of the present for that society-imposed ways of life. For none of society necessarily knows myself beyond the external world, like I do.

Can we say that anyone is capable of self-professorship like we can, as people who are always with our own company?

However, traces of this "Father Knows Best" mentality persist in certain societies, often dictated by figures of authority – be it a religious leader, a dictator, or even the interpretations of ancient texts. These societies hinder self-ownership claiming to know what's best for their members, much like a parent controlling a child's life. One Chinese ethnic group, known as the Mosuo, is a matriarchal society where, ironically to progressive philosophies, women are compelled into either having children or adopting ones. That's because their traditional way of life compromises their own regard, as in the case in other collective, self-conserving traditions.

To take control over your life -- that begins by refusing to become whatever society wants you to become, by disagreeing with its ways, and actively opposing it, by walking your own path. Reluctantly serve it too much, and you won't be happy. You won't be happy because you won't be living the life you want. Hence the existence of a concept I call, "The Sin of Good". We may "sin" by being good to other's expectations -- but not our own, thus giving them rule, or "dharma", over our lives, and "karma", as we suffer in accordance to our submission and lack of assertiveness.

Navigating My "Dharma"

As a child, before the diagnosis of autism brought clarity to my social challenges, my clan were the well-meaning forces guiding my life, and teaching me morality through hospitality ceremonies. While they granted me freedom I was pushed towards social interactions, as I believed they had the authority to know what was best for me.

The greatest oversight in my upbringing was not making me understand that those who fit in are usually those who either have powerbases or are normal enough. Now, I engage with others like a politician, not like a genuine social animal. Although I "sin" in moral egoism, extensive social interaction can be draining for me, as in the case of many introverts. Do you see where I'm getting at?

I'm getting at the fact that you can't properly know what is better or best for you if you won't get to know yourself properly. And that is a task others might be less better at doing, when you are the one capable of much soul-searching, than them.

The concept of "Dharma," or the path to a meaningful life, is painted with diverse interpretations, in theory, finding an absolute, universal answer for all life journeys. Collectivists will see purpose in social connection, while individualists will put an emphasis on activities related to self-discovery. Hedonists would chase pleasure, etc.. Patriots dedicate their lives to the nation, while some view humans as mere vessels for procreation and species survival. This collections of perspectives begs the question: which path leads to true fulfillment? Or more specifically, which path resonates with reality the most?

Criticizing "Dharma"

The inherent problem with "Dharma" lies in its subjective nature. And subjectivity is a problem here because subjectivity implies general equality, even between opposite perspectives. That is while Dharma is all about the universality of the truth. It's when a uniform fact exists regardless of external standards. For example: The Earth is both big and small, and yet, we cannot doubt the fact that it's both big than ourselves, and smaller than the sun. Subjectivity is not subject to reality, necessarily, but necessarily to perception. It always originates from perception, but does not even have to be related to external reality.

You cannot apply the same to individualism and collectivism because they oppose themselves directly, unlike size, which is always in relation to other bodies. Individualism and collectivism, on the other hand, need to be proven in order to be correct. And they cannot be correct at the same time if individualism opposes collectivism and vice versa.

However, "big" and "small" do not, in general, contradict each other, because it always depends on specific relations, and not reality at large.

However, the question of "how to live" may not have a single, objective answer. That's because, as in the example of sizes, there is no universality of truth but subjective equality. Those who claim to have found it often fall into the very "sin" they accuse others of – holding a subjective opinion, that does not have to relate to reality whatsoever, in order for it to exist.

This is why, logically, there's no one-size-fits-all manual for living. The source of guidance is as personal as the journey itself, and is always up for our freedom of choice. We can learn from different philosophies, but the responsibility of creating a meaningful life rests with each individual, if we even desire it.

Intermission: A Hermit Philosopher's "Dharma"

I used to choose the individualist side of the issue, believing that only I could know for myself what was best for me. However, if it weren't for welfare, I would've lived thus far very poorly, even though I managed to make some money off the internet, using the things I'm good at. I recieve welfare because I have invisible disabilities. Actually, I opened this site because I wanted to turn it into a living and leave a legacy as well.

When when you are disabled life provides different paths for you... paths less taken. Introspecting deep inside me I know my purpose and as such I accepted my death as well.

However, I understand that my situation is quite exceptional becuase no one would understand my disabilities unless they are to get into a deeper connection with me. And it's something I let very few people do with me. Because it is very easy to misunderstand me I quarantine myself from the world on purpose, exclusively knowing what I'm capable of doing, for good and for bad.

By isolating myself, I control my own destiny from the confines of my physical hermitage. I take control of the "dharma" and make it into my own. I am too wise to consider the hands society to be equal to fate.

Finding Your Dharma

So, from all of this, I gather that the crucial question becomes: do you choose to live life on your terms, willingly fulfilling your passions, or do you sacrifice your desires for external gains?

Take the artist, for example. Their passion might lead to a small apartment and perhaps fewer children, but the joy of creation fuels their soul. On the other hand, a career against your honest desires might bring wealth and a seemingly ideal family, but at the cost of constant internal conflict, between you and your ideal self.

Controlling "Dharma", then, lies in prioritizing your life's purpose/s. Before blindly navigating its currents, define what truly matters to you. Every path has its compromises, but each offers unique rewards that won't necessarily be within other paths.

Religion, with its diverse doctrines, cannot dictate universal happiness and fulfillment for every individual. This, perhaps, is why secularism is or was on the rise. While religion provides meaning for some, it cannot be forced upon all like a uniform. Some "weeds" will rebel because religion fails tailoring its life philosophy on every single member.

Even the most populous religion, with its zealous followers, cannot guarantee universal contentment, if that is even its purpose in the first place. Some may still find themselves dissatisfied, even driven to despair, by its "cosmic laws". To claim one religion as superior based on sheer numbers is to fall prey to the ad populum fallacy.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Dharma that governs each life is forged by individual choices or external forces, sometimes willingly embraced, other times thrust upon us. And within this diversity of paths, a multitude of Dharmas can coexist, shaping our lives in unique and complex ways. In many cases the choice is ours to either stay or deviate from our current paths.

The lack of a universal Dharma for each human to follow in a uniform matter, allows people to be free within this universe of void and its three expressions of space, seclusion and silence. I explained what it means in another article.