30 Sec Answer: The opposite word to dharma is adharma.
Introduction
Dharma is an important concept in Hinduism, Buddhism and other Indian religions. It’s often referred to as "the law of righteousness," or the path of truth. Dharma encompasses many things, such as one’s duty to their family, society and nature. But what exactly is its opposite? What is the word for something that goes against dharma?
What is Dharma?
The term “dharma” comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “to uphold” or “to bear." In Hinduism, it generally refers to religious and moral duties that each person must fulfill in order to live a life of righteousness. Dharma includes all aspects of life—not just spiritual practices, but also everyday actions like how one should treat their parents or be kind to animals. Ultimately, it seeks to maintain cosmic balance and harmony between humans and nature.
What is Adharma?
Adharma (sometimes spelled a-dharma) literally means "without dharma" or "anti-dharma." It refers to any action that goes against the laws of righteousness set out by dharma. Anything that goes against established norms and traditions can be considered adharmic behavior. This includes dishonesty, betrayal, selfishness and greed. Adharma also applies to more serious offenses such as violence and stealing.
How Does Adharma Impact People?
Adharma has negative consequences on both an individual and collective level. On an individual level, engaging in adharmic behaviors leads to guilt, regret and spiritual suffering. Collective consequences are seen when entire communities suffer due to dishonest acts such as corruption or exploitation of resources. Even natural disasters have been attributed to the collective adharmic deeds of humanity.
Examples of Adharma
There are many examples of adharmic behavior, ranging from minor infractions like gossiping about someone behind their back, to major crimes like murder or theft. Other examples include lying, cheating on tests or taxes, taking advantage of others for personal gain, abusing drugs or alcohol, neglecting one’s responsibilities, spreading malicious rumors, disobeying laws and damaging public property.
The Consequences of Adharma
The consequences of adharmic actions vary depending on the severity of the offense. Generally speaking though, people who act adharmically face short-term setbacks such as punishment or ostracization by society; long-term effects may include diminished reputation, mental anguish or even physical harm. It is believed that individuals who commit too many adharmic deeds will eventually have to pay for them through bad karma in this life or the next one (according to Hindu belief).
Understanding Karma & Its Role in Adharma
Karma refers to the notion that our current situation in life is a result of our past actions (both good and bad). When we perform adharmic deeds, we create negative karma which can bring us trouble in the future; likewise, performing dharmic actions creates positive karma which can bring us blessings down the line. Therefore understanding karma plays an important role in recognizing how our actions today can shape our destiny tomorrow.
How Can We Overcome Adharma?
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes—it’s human nature! Fortunately there are ways we can address these missteps without letting them take over our lives: firstly by recognizing when we’ve acted wrongly so that we can make amends with those affected; secondly by trying not to repeat similar mistakes in future; thirdly by striving to cultivate good habits such as honesty and respect for others; lastly by seeking guidance from wise teachers if needed. These steps can help us learn from our mistakes while reducing potential harm caused by them at the same time.
Summary
To sum up, dharma is an essential aspect of many Indian religions which stresses doing righteous deeds that promote peace and balance between humanity and nature. Its opposite word is adharma which refers to any action that goes against dharma’s laws of righteousness—such as dishonesty or violence—and carries negative consequences on both individual and collective levels. Finally it’s important to remember that understanding karma plays a key role in recognizing how our current decisions influence our future outcomes; therefore it’s wise practice strive for balance between dharmic and adharmic behaviors whenever possible!