Dharma and Buddhism

We use these terms interchangeably for the same thing, the teaching of Buddha. Yet, there’s a huge difference between the two, and the usage is quite ambiguous. Buddhism isn’t just the Buddha’s teaching, it includes many things that can again be put into two categories, the teaching itself and culture. In other words, it’s Dharma and culture. The latter includes languages, customs, rites and rituals, food, geographically oriented ‘Buddhist’ identity, and many more, as you break it down to different areas of culture.

Therefore, you may find it extremely difficult to separate the Dharma from culture, and it really is, I bet. Naturally, we do a cultural interpretation of the Dharma, which is OK, yet not absolutely. The true understanding of the Dharma is achieved through ‘transcending’ the cultural level. Culture is the ‘basis’ we rely on even in our spiritual practice. Later on, you’ll be able to remain culturally untouched and untouched at the same time, just like the enlightened people do.

 In introducing the Dharma to somebody from a different background, it often happens that the culture is presented.

 The true mission of Dharma is not a transplant of an alien culture onto a foreign culture, but presenting the Dharma in compliance with the local, inherited way of thinking of those who feel alien to the Dharma. Otherwise, they’d feel alienated by the alien Dharma. By the way, the Dharma is not alien but Buddhism in a relative sense.

 It is inevitable that, decades later, the Dharma thus introduced would become part of the local culture, which is the story of different Buddhist traditions. In such a situation, effort must be made for ‘intra-cultural reintroduction of Dharma.’ As an immigrant in America hanging around with different ethnic Buddhist communities and local Buddhist groups, I’ve been told by many Americans that they’re confused by the fact that they oftentimes happen to hear a ‘cultural version of Dharma.' They’re not wrong, even though there’s no cultural version of Dharma but Buddhism. I personally know they must first be given some Dharma blended with their own cultural version yet on the grassroots level only. This is achieved by means of local similes, metaphors, and in light of their own real life situations. Then, as they smoothly continue with meditation practice, the universal Dharma can be taught.

 In the Universal Dharma you never feel threatened culturally.

 The Dharma, which is universal, is seen through meditation as opposed to philosophical speculations and cultural orientations.

 Now, it’s your time to think of the Dharma and Buddhism, even though it’s basically difficult to separate them from one another.

 Don’t worry, I’m just asking you.

Do meditate, which is the best solution, as the outcome is universal. After a meditation sitting, people from different religio-cultural backgrounds would tell how universal they would feel. That’ my experience in this part of the world where people from different backgrounds co-exist acculturated or assimilated, and feel universal within the universal Dharma, thanks to meditation.

By the way, I continue to use the term Buddhism that’s an established term. I find it OK, as long as I don’t mix up the two terms. So far not, nor will I hopefully.

Don’t stick to labels. Dharma is not patented, and free from trademarks and copyright. There is no religion other than peace. Peace is a mental state. The above children are experiencing that.

By Upananda Thero Dedunupitiye

(Picture: Children in meditation, Ehipassiko Buddhist Centre, Calgary, Canada)

[Picture by Upananda Thero Dedunupitiye]