Would you say the "dharma" explains "dharmas"

I remember the 1st book I read on Buddhism was about 'dharma' and that this has a few meanings, including, at least 'teaching' and 'element' (I suppose both of these are English glosses). > (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) The natural order of the universe; > natural law, cosmic order. > (Buddhism) The teachings of the Buddha as a practice to > be promulgated and taught. These are different senses: teaching / reality. Would you say that the teachings explain the elements? By "explain" I mean show how they are caused. ---------- Follow up question (I'm posting enough!) is whether *either* the teachings are about something real, *or* what they are about the elements in the present.