Considered as a wide range of traditions and rituals, Hinduism is found outside the concept of religion by being more focused on the different practices of worship, than on the level of faith that its believers can have. According to the expert in Religious Studies, Ryan Turner, Hinduism «has no creed, being a set of religious traditions that are characterized by ceremonies that honor their gods.»
Among the axes that govern Hinduism stand out: morality (Dharma), reincarnation (Samsara), «non-violence» (Ahimsa), the inner being (Atman), correct action and inaction together with the consequences that will lead to the future (Karma), and finally liberation (Moksha).
Nevertheless, within Hinduism there is also free choice, that is, each person has the option to choose the way they live, following or not, the different practices and rituals mentioned above. According to the philologist, Amarjeet Singh, “there is no ‘one Hinduism’ or one set doctrine for all, so Hinduism lacks a unified system of beliefs and ideas.”
The Dharma is a priority in the set of ideas that make up Hinduism. Although in Sanskrit it means ‘religion’, it also has the interpretation of ‘natural law’, and ‘correct conduct’. The difference that would demarcate it would be based on the other established practices in India such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
Within Hinduism, the Dharma establishes those actions that follow the order of life and the universe, including both the duties, as the rights, the laws of society, and the right way of coexistence. According to the Hindus, everything on earth is governed by the Dharma as it is considered a universal law of nature..
Although its concept can be confused with Karma, the way of differentiating one from the other suggests that Dharma is the duty in life, while Karma is the consequence after the way in which each person has fulfilled those duties. Dharma rules the present, while Karma will affect the future life.
According to other characteristics of Karma, It must be considered as a transcendent and immeasurable energy that is derived from each person’s action. The law of Karma is a central belief within Hinduism, since it is linked to reincarnation, when applied in the successor lives of that internal being (Atman).
popularly, Karma is related to the law of cause and effectbeing able to explain the universal conflicts that the human being goes through in his life, each coming event being a reaction of the behaviors in his previous life. This simple concept can be transferred to any religion or religious practice, regardless of the belief in reincarnation, well, without a doubt, each one has seen the consequences of their actions, and the lessons derived from each past behavior, or even from inaction itself.