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Learning to Learn

Dharma, Karma and Moksha: The Path of Righteous Living

<h3>Dharma, Karma and Moksha</h3><p>Three connected ideas shape the Hindu way of living.</p><p><strong>Dharma</strong> is your <em>righteous duty</em>, the correct way to act according to your role, age and situation. Truthfulness, non-violence (<code>ahimsa</code>), and responsibility are part of dharma.</p><p><strong>Karma</strong> is the principle of <em>action and consequence</em>: every action carries an effect. Kind, honest deeds tend to bring good results; selfish or cruel deeds bring harm. Hindus picture life as a cycle of rebirth called <strong>samsara</strong>, in which karma shapes each new life.</p><p><strong>Moksha</strong> is the ultimate goal, <em>liberation</em>, when the soul is freed from samsara and united with the Supreme Reality. The path toward moksha is built through good dharma and good karma, lifetime after lifetime.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> The law of karma is like the farmer's truth that 'you reap what you sow'. If a learner studies honestly and helps classmates, those good seeds grow into trust and good results. If a trader cheats customers on the weighing scale, the harm eventually returns. Good karma is simply choosing to do right, again and again.</div>
Audio narration — reads aloud, works offline

What does 'dharma' mean?