In this article Noa Jones draws a distinction between the dharma that naturally arises in every day life, regardless of identity, and the Buddhadharma that is taught more explicitly from the cannon.

“…what is dharma? There is no exact English equivalent of the word. It is a concept more ancient than Buddhism itself, present among ancient Indian wisdom traditions, and described and understood in different ways depending on which dictionary is consulted, and even among my own advisors. Some options are: “the nature of reality regarded as a universal truth taught by the Buddha;” “the teaching of Buddhism;” and “an aspect of truth or reality.” At a yoga ashram in the Bahamas, I heard a definition that I’ve used a few times since: “A matrix of universal truths.” Some people say “path” but I think it’s more like “way” as in the way things are. I also like the Collins Dictionary definition: “cosmic order or law, including the natural and moral principles that apply to all beings and things.” To the parents I use a blend of these depending on who is listening, but basically, it’s just how things are, the nature of reality and how our minds work.” Read More

Noa has a monthly column in Buddhistdoor Global.