Rlg: Karma vs Dharma

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Writing RLG205 : , and compare and contrast their definitions and conceptions of these inter- related terms. {Dharma and karma are the two of the crucial principles in many religions like Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Both Hinduism and Buddhism prompt a disciple to take actions that will lead to potential attainment of the ultimate goal of their religion that is moska and nirvana respectively. In this essay I would like to highlight that one of the fundamental goal of the existence of these doctrines is to promote social harmony within a group by encouraging self-actualization of each individual by motivating them to achieve the final goal of liberation. By Focusing on two different religions like Hinduism and Buddhism I would like to highlight the similarities and contrasts in the definition of the terms between the two religions, their adherence to the doctrine and the path through which a disciple has to go through to accomplish the goal of achieving Nirvana in Buddhism and Moksa is Hinduism. I will be using the term dharma and dhamma interchangeably likewise for karma and kamma.} Dharma is defined differently in Hinduism and Buddhism. Although, meaning of the word dhamma in Buddhism is difficult to narrow down. It can mean truth, phenomena, principles, righteousness, good acts, morality or most commonly know the “body” of the teachings of the Buddha. In Hinduism the concept of Dharma is so central to the religion that Hindu Dharma can be referred as Hinduism. This is just a broad view of dharma; to better comprehend Dharma one must understand its importance in the religion and understand why it is important. The meaning of the term includes such ideas as ‘truth,’ ‘ethics,’ ‘duty,’ ‘law,’ ‘cosmic order,’ and ‘righteousness.’ Literally, dharma is ‘what holds together,’ and thus it is the basis of all order, whether natural, cosmic, social, or

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