Buddha saw politics not as an end in itself but as an instrument that could either provide favourable conditions or create harmful obstructions for an individual's personal advancement. He recognised that government is necessary to provide social order and welfare and that its values, content and processes should be consistent with the 'Dharma'. Here Dharma refers to the teachings of Buddha and their realisation, which are offered as universal or natural laws. These laws are not created by Buddha; they operate with or without him, but Buddha revealed these laws and recommended that we examine them and act accordingly, not through blind faith but through a process of rational human assessment. A fundamental principle of Dharma relevant to politics is the equality and dignity of all individuals. Buddha stressed that all human beings have an inherent worth and capacity for enlightenment, called 'Buddha nature'. In contrast to the prevailing ritualism, Buddha rejected the caste system and argued that virtues were distributed equally, not hierarchically, across society. Buddha's teachings also reflect the principle of equality when he prescribes that monarchy, during his lifetime, should be based on popular consent (not divine right), conducted in consultation with the governed, and even-handed in the application of its rules for admission, participation, administration and dispute resolution.