The Gift of the Dharma

People who think that the Dharma is something very mystical and abstract can become very confused about the idea of giving the Dharma. In fact the Dharma is nothing other than the teachings of Buddhism. For example, the teaching on dependent origination is that all existence is a result of interdependency. Something exists because it is the product of other causes and conditions, and this something will in turn condition the arising and existence of other things. Everything is constantly under the influence of something else, and nothing truly exists independently; hence, nothing is permanent. How do we relate this to our own lives? Here is a simple analogy The reason why a woman is a wife is because she has a husband. If she does not have a husband, she is not a wife and vice versa. Therefore, husband and wife are interdependent, relative to each other. If you present this teaching to other people, then you are giving the Dharma. You need not literally tell others about the theory of wives and husbands; you just need to communicate the idea of this thing being dependent on that, and vice versa, or this ceasing to exist because of that, or the perishing of this causing the cessation of that. Simply by sharing your understanding of the Buddhak teachings, you are giving the Dharma.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that one who understands dependent origination understands the Dharma. If one understands the Dharma one also understands Buddhism. If a person correctly expounds this idea, this can be considered giving the Dharma.