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Dharma: Cosmic Law and Order; Mother Nature; Truth (the one and only version)

Karma: The impact suffered when Dharma is broken. The further from Mother Nature one strays, the more it’s gonna hurt.

Have you ever wondered why, despite great obstacles, some people achieve success, while others, though given everything, seem to squander it away? Or why some people, despite having very little, radiate joy, while others appear miserable though surrounded by opulence? The answer is Dharma: knowing your soul’s purpose and living it is the key to creating a fulfilling life.

Built on a deep body of Vedic knowledge, the ancient system of social structure and spiritual duty known as Dharma has modern applications for people seeking their life’s purpose. The Five Dharma archetypes (Warrior, Educator, Merchant, Laborer, and Outsider) have been found throughout history, across the globe, in all civilizations. They can be viewed as one’s authentic resume - no bullshit included. There are benefits, challenges, emotional and learning styles, and social, interpersonal, and health dynamics associated with each type.

Dharma types function as an operating system for your identity, helping you map your life and play to your innate strengths, whether in choosing a prosperous career or field of study or in facing health challenges and meeting fitness goals. By accepting and understanding the nature of your type, you begin to align with your true purpose and, regardless of fate, find joy and meaning in life.

The Outsider

Outsiders are the rebels and black sheep of the Dharma Type family.

They rock the boat of convention, by choice or circumstance, and consider themselves reformers and free spirits. Outsider types are unconventional, empathic, and socially conscious. They blend many influences and traditions into their personalities, and can see things from different angles.

Outsiders are also masters of deception. When properly channeled, this can make them great actors, magicians, or musicians. When poorly channeled, it makes them prone to self-deception, delusion, and lies.

The key to the Outsider’s liberation is telling the truth to themselves about themselves. Responsibility and Self-Respect go a long way to keeping Outsiders healthy and free so that they can free the world in turn.

Outsider examples: Denzel Washington, Walt Disney, Princess Dianna, Eli Roth, Chewbacca

The Laborer

Laborers are the salt-of-the-earth backbone of society.

Laborers are practical, handy, and deeply loyal. They have natural instincts for community and enjoy bringing people together. Food and family are central to their lives, and they believe it is easier to know someone over a meal and a drink than in hours of stuffy conversation. Laborers are also the most caring of the dharma types, and gravitate to industries and professions that nourish, or otherwise tend to the needy. Laborers make great social workers, nurses, or therapists and can often be found working ‘in the trenches’ with the people they serve.

Laborers can be highly skilled in their area of expertise, though not necessarily well-rounded. Sometimes, their narrow focus can cause them to become dogmatic, hard-headed, literal-minded, and evangelistic, unable to see other points of view. The antidote to this propensity is to surround themselves with Merchant types and a constant flow of new energy, ideas, and people. This allows them to refresh their bodies, minds, and personalities without becoming stuck in rigid ways of thinking.

Laborer examples: Harrison Ford, Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Mr. Fred Rogers, R2D2

Role in society: Laborers serve Merchants as customers. The Laborer duty is to the Educator.

Evolved Laborers become Merchants and accumulate positive Karma. Devolved Laborers pretend to be educators and accumulate negative Karma.

The Educator

Educators are the wisdom keepers of the Dharma Type family. But they also have a secret.

They are creatures of great wisdom and often great lust. From Ben Franklin to Tiger Woods, famous Educators embody both an image of purity and trust as well as a somewhat scandalous carnal desire. With one foot in the physical world and one foot in the world of ideas, they can find it hard to reconcile their philosophies with everyday reality. This is especially true in their own lives.

Educators are also the Renaissance men and women of the world. They are knowledgeable about a great many things, and are the teachers of society. Whether their platform be politics, sports, academics, or religion, they are the people we trust to uphold the moral order of our civilization. In order to do that effectively, Educators must cultivate honesty, self-discipline, and the ability to practice what they preach.

Educator examples: Gandhi, Ben Franklin, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Socrates, C-3PO

Role in society: Educators serve Laborers through education. The Educator duty is to the Warrior, providing them with truth (Dharma) to protect.

Evolved Educators become Warriors and accumulate positive Karma. Devolved Educators pretend to be Laborers and accumulate negative Karma.

The Warrior

Warriors are the superheroes and protectors of the Dharma Type family.

At heart, Warriors are basically Heroes, and need to feel like they are giving their lives for a worthy cause. They can accomplish the impossible when they have something to fight for, a noble goal to strive after. Like soldiers, doctors, and firefighters, they do great things when working to protect others. Even lawyers and politicians, in the pristine spirit of their professions, have the public’s interest first in mind.

But Warriors can become cynical and self-destructive when they lack a Just Cause. They can fall to anger and pride, or succumb to the ugliness of the world and become self-serving, or ridden with vices like alcoholism and gambling. Key to staying healthy for Warriors is cultivating knowledge and wisdom, and harnessing some of their abundant energy to protect others and promote good causes.

Warrior examples: Richard Sherman, the Buddha, John F. Kennedy, General Patton, Luke Skywalker

Role in society: Warriors serve Educators by fighting for the truth. The Warrior duty is to the Merchant, keeping them honest with themselves and society.

Evolved Warriors become Educators and accumulate positive Karma. Devolved Warriors pretend to be Merchants and accumulate negative Karma.

The Merchant

Merchants are the most memorable people in popular culture.

By sheer force of their personalities, they can achieve great fame, wealth, and social standing. But their charisma and easy social nature hide a core emptiness inside that makes them feel insecure and never good enough. As a result, Merchants try to fill up on company, food, drugs, and entertainment to relieve their loneliness. Their solution lies not in these things, but in Charity. Charity does for the soul what diet does for the body. By ridding themselves of excess and giving of their abundant charm and talents to others, Merchants are freed from loneliness, and given in return a source of nourishment that no material things can match. This is gratitude.

Merchants are also volatile and temperamental, and have to learn to manage their emotions to sustain good health. They are the most likely to resort to short cuts, such as surgery and drugs, to get to their goals, though this is not always the best answer for them.

Merchant examples: Elvis Presley, Leonardo DiCaprio, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Han Solo

Role in society: Merchants serve warriors with food and shelter, when needed, and without expectation. The Merchant duty is to the Laborers, feeding, entertaining and bringing the masses together.

Evolved Merchants become Laborers and accumulate positive Karma. Devolved Merchants pretend to be Warriors and accumulate negative Karma.

Interested in learning more about yourself?

Schedule a consultation for your unique and comprehensive Dharma roadmap.