Dharma Vs. Karma

The word dharma is formed from the sanskrit root 'dhr', to hold, dharma is therefore that which holds a person or object and maintains it in existence, it is the law that governs its being. To live according to dharma is to be in consonance with the truth of things. A moral life, for a Hindu, is a life lived in accordance with his dharma, which in turn must be in conformity with the absolute truth that encompasses the universe.

"The fundamental difference between religion (dharma) and karma is that whilst dharma shows a way for people to live and conduct their lives with purpose, karma refers to the consequences of your actions resulting from the way people live that life."

"The term Dharma is defined in Mīmāṁsa as:—

Dharma is that which leads to the highest common good (śreyas) [and, is distinguished by Vedic injunctions - vidhi].

Dharma is “right living” defined by the practice of universal ethics and personal morals.

The Mahabharata defines Dharma:–

dhāraṇād dharma ityāhuḥ dharmo dhārayate prajāḥ |

ya syād dhāraṇa samyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ ||

The word Dharma is derived from dhāraṇa or sustenance; dharma sustains society. That which has the capacity to sustain is indeed dharma. (M.B. Karna Parva 69:58)

“Dharma” cannot be known through empirical means such as cognition. It can be known only either through intuition or through an impersonal source of knowledge.

The problem with relying on reason or intuition is that individuals will come to differing conclusions about what the ultimate nature of the “Common Good” is.

There are endless controversies on most if not all ethical issues by “experts” who take one side or the other.

The best and most universal source of Dharma therefore, would be an “impersonal” source such as the Vedas.

What is Dharma?

Dharma refers to Harmony, The Way, Righteousness, Compassion, Natural Law, Truth, Teachings, Tradition, Philosophy, Order, Universal, Flow, Religion, Wisdom, Divine Conformity, Cosmic Norm, Blueprint, Inherent Nature, Law of Being, and Duty.

The science of conduct, the systematized principles according to which one should act.

Ethical science is a relative science — relative to the individual and one's surroundings and circumstances.

The purpose of morality is to bring about happiness for the maximum number of people by creating harmony.

Harmony between individuals of a family, between families of a community, between communities that live together in a nation. Harmony between nations that make up humanity. Harmony between humankind and the environment and other creatures that share our earth. And harmony between earthlings and the inhabitants of other worlds.

Where there is harmony there is happiness, disharmony cause unhappiness.

The ultimate object of morality is to bring about universal happiness.

The underlying principle of Dharma is the recognition of the unity of the Self and the diversity of the not-self.

Examples of Dharma:-

Ijyayācarā damo’himsā dānam svādhyāya karma ca | Ayaṃ ca paramo dharmo yad yogena ātma darśanam || (Manu 2:7)

Altruism (ijyacara), control of mind, non-violence, charity, self-study, work, realisation of the Atman by means of Yoga — all these are Dharmas.

adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā | anugrahaśca dānaṃ ca stāṃ dharma sanātanaḥ ||

The Eternal Duty (Sanātana Dharma) towards all creatures is the absence of malevolence towards them in thought, deed or word, and to practice compassion and generosity towards them. (MB Vana Parva 297;35)

satyam damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaśca kṣamārjavam | jñānaṁ śamo dānaṁ eṣā dharmaḥ sanātana ||

Sanatana Dharma consists of truth, discipline, austerity, purity, contentment, forgiveness and honesty, knowledge, peacefulness and generosity. (Garuda Purana 1:213:24)"

"Duty is what should motivate everyone. Duty or Ethics is known as Dharma and is the way and the end in itself.

Is a person who does good and lives an ethical life for the sake of self-glorification and some future heavenly reward really virtuous? Or should virtue be an end in itself.

If you do good only through fear of hell then you are a fake and a fraud and merely suppressing and masking your inherent malevolent nature.

The Gita tells us never to be concerned for the fruit of action, but you should find your joy and purpose in the doing itself.

All philosophers have addressed this issue."

"Let us now understand the meaning of Gita in this new perspective. When our mind is focused on the results (of future), we can’t enjoy what we are doing (at present). You would have perhaps acquired more knowledge from the book, had you read it with joy instead of getting something out of it. In the same way, when you play tennis with your friend without bothering about winning or losing, you enjoy the game the most. If you are playing better tennis than your friend, you are anyway going to win with or without aiming for it. Even when you lose the game, you have still enjoyed the play.

When you stop thinking about the fruits of your action, and learn to just enjoy the action itself; you get a new meaning of your life. There is a paradigm shift in your life. Instead of looking others as your rival, you learn to see them as friends. You develop a sportsman spirit and you accept your victory or defeat in the same spirit. It does not matter to you if a hundred million people have already read ‘Angles and Demons’ as their enjoyment does not reduce your enjoyment? Your joy is coterminous with your action and you develop no attachment with your action.

It is thus evident that actions without aspiration of fruits are better than action done for achieving a goal. The more you perform such action, the better your life would be"

You participate in competition ,but the first serve the needy or you offer to God
Negates the karma

That is why we first offer to God as prasadam.

Thus:

Dharma and karma are Sanskrit concepts that have been codified through the practice of indigenous Indian religions. ... Dharma refers to one's lifelong duty whereas karma refers to someone's day to day actions and the negative or positive obligations these actions bring about

Karma is a concept of Hinduism which explains causality through a system where beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a soul's (Atman's) reincarnated lives forming a cycle of rebirth.