What is your Dharma?

Dharma comes from the Sanskrit root word Dhr which means to uphold or support. On a world or societal level, dharma is that which sustains the cosmic order of things, or sustains the righteousness of things. On a personal level, dharma is that which upholds one’s personal truth and how it expresses through their actions.

Dharma is often loosely translated to mean purpose, but dharma is more subtle than purpose. It refers to an underlying energy rather than a job, role, or occupation. It’s not how we spend our time, but that universal essence which drives us to spend our time in that way. There’s something divine about dharma. Dharma doesn’t come from our minds, it comes from the higher wisdom (prajna) of nature or of Brahman.

The same dharmic energy could be expressed through many different jobs: yoga teacher, school teacher, activist, artist, influencer, or uber driver. Any of these jobs could be upheld by the same essence. It’s not what you do, but how you do it.

So how do you find out your dharma? Well, there’s no quick answer, but it’s generally recommended to sit, meditate, spend time in nature, and listen to what you receive from the higher powers. It also requires a shift away from what is successful in order to move into Truth.

Some say that one’s dharma is rooted in their soul, and it may stay the same through many lifetimes. Others say that one’s dharma can change or evolve based on their karma and how each lifetime unfolds. In the end, it always comes back to listening rather than thinking, and that divine truth will be revealed to us in perfect timing.