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Dharma

The cosmic law that manifests as each being's own duty — right order known not as abstract truth but as the specific obligation of one's nature and station (svadharma), so that maintaining the cosmos and performing one's proper work are one act; the Gita's 'one's own duty, though defective, is better than another's well performed.' Sits beside asha_cosmic_order and maat_cosmic_order as a right-order concept but is distinct in individuating the order into personal vocation; distinct from good_thought_word_deed (ethical triad) in binding duty to cosmic station.

14 passages · 3 traditions
native_american: 12 passagesnative_american12christian_mysticism: 1 passagechristian_mysticism1hinduism: 1 passagehinduism1
native_american12
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IIa
“THE FAMILY ALTAR Pre-natal Influence. Early Religious Teaching. The Function of the Aged. Woman, Marriage and the Family. Loyalty, Hospitality, Friendship. The American Indian was an individualist in religion as in war. He had neither…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IIb
“You may destroy him once and again, but he issues as often from that same gentle lap—a gift of the Great Good to the race, in which man is only an accomplice!” This wild mother has not only the experience of her mother and grandmother, and…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IIc
“The betrothal might or might not be discussed and approved by the parents, but in either case it was customary for the young pair to disappear into the wilderness, there to pass some days or weeks in perfect seclusion and dual solitude, aft…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IId
“Names of any dignity or importance must be conferred by the old men, and especially so if they have any spiritual significance; as Sacred Cloud, Mysterious Night, Spirit Woman, and the like. Such a name was sometimes borne by three generat…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IVb
“The same thing occurred when he took his first step, when his ears were pierced, and when he shot his first game, so that his childish exploits and progress were known to the whole clan as to a larger family, and he grew into manhood with t…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IVc
“It was considered a high honor among us to have won some distinction in war and the chase, and above all to have been invited to a seat in the council, before one had spoken to any girl save his own sister. It was our belief that the love…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IVd
“Before the coming of the white man, there was in fact little temptation or opportunity to despoil the enemy; but in modern times the practice of “stealing horses” from hostile tribes has become common, and is thought far from dishonorable.…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IVe
“Crow Dog was under a vow to slay the chief, in case he ever betrayed or disgraced the name of the Brule Sioux. There is no doubt that he had committed crimes both public and private, having been guilty of misuse of office as well as of gro…”
◆The Soul of the Indian | Chapter Vd
“The young man and his Teacher made a birch-bark canoe, which floated upon the surface of the flood, while of the animals there were saved only a few, who had found a foothold upon the highest peaks. The youth had now passed triumphantly th…”
◆Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 23
“THE RABBIT DINES THE BEAR The Bear invited the Rabbit to dine with him. They had beans in the pot, but there was no grease for them, so the Bear cut a slit in his side and let the oil run out until they had enough to cook the dinner. The Ra…”
◆Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 46
“WHY THE BUZZARD’S HEAD IS BARE The buzzard used to have a fine topknot, of which he was so proud that he refused to eat carrion, and while the other birds were pecking at the body of a deer or other animal which they had found he would stru…”
◆Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 108a
“THE MASSACRE OF THE ANI′-KUTA′NĬ Among other perishing traditions is that relating to the Ani′-Kuta′nĭ or Ani′-Kwăta′nĭ, concerning whom the modern Cherokee know so little that their very identity is now a matter of dispute, a few holding t…”
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christian_mysticism1
◆Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter XLIV
“"God is endless, sovereign Truth,—Wisdom,—Love, not-made; and man's Soul is a creature in God which hath the same properties made" God shewed in all the Revelations, oftentimes, that man worketh evermore His will and His worship lastingly w…”
hinduism1
◆The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter XVIII, Section 1c
“Agriculture, tending cattle, trade, (this) is the natural duty of Vai s yas, And the natural duty of S ûdras, too, consists in service. (Every) man intent on his own respective duties obtains perfection . Listen, now, how one intent on on…”