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The Dhammapada


SKU:	020-6
Size:	5'' x 8¼''
ISBN:	978-1-58638-020-5
Pages:	280
Author:	Eknath Easwaran
Formats:	Paperback, E-book

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Classics of Indian Spirituality

Table of Contents | Read an Excerpt | Media Reviews and Endorsements | Reader Reviews

The Dhammapada: one of three new editions of the books in Eknath Easwaran’s Classics of Indian Spirituality series

“As irrigators guide water to their fields, as archers aim arrows, as carpenters carve wood, the wise shape their lives.”
– Dhammapada (145)

Dhammapada means “the path of dharma,” the path of truth, harmony, and righteousness. Capturing the living words of the Buddha, this much-loved scripture consists of verses organized by theme: thought, joy, anger, pleasure, and others.

The Dhammapada is permeated with the power and practicality of one of the world’s most appealing spiritual teachers. Rejecting superstition on the one hand and philosophical speculation on the other, the Buddha taught the path to the end of suffering and showed how we can achieve lasting joy. He spells out our choices with a refreshing realism and frankness. And he insists that we be spiritually self-reliant: “All the effort must be made by you. Buddhas only point the way.”

Easwaran believed that we need nothing more than the Dhammapada to follow the way of the Buddha. His main qualification for interpreting the Dhammapada, he said, was that he knew from his own experience that these verses can transform our lives.

Features

Easwaran’s introduction gives a complete overview of the Buddha’s core teachings, illustrating them with contemporary references. A master storyteller, Easwaran brings vividly to life Prince Siddhartha’s spiritual quest and his transformation into the great teacher known as the Buddha. Perfect for first-time readers, with intriguing new insights for those familiar with this text.
This translation is reliable, accessible, and elegant. The Dhammapada was originally written in Pali, a language derived from Sanskrit, which Easwaran studied from an early age. Easwaran’s rendering has an expressive brilliance acquired through many years of immersion in English literature.
Chapter introductions explain key terms and place individual verses into the context of the broader Buddhist canon for readers of all levels. A glossary and chapter notes are also included.
This latest edition contains a new foreword, elegant new cover, and easy-to-read, two-color interior.

Table of Contents |

Foreword: The Classics of Indian Spirituality
Introduction: The Dhammapada
1: Twin Verses
2: Vigilance
3: Mind
4: Flowers
5: The Immature
6: The Wise
7: The Saint
8: Thousands
9: Evil
10: Punishment
11: Age
12: Self
13: The World
14: The Awakened One
15: Joy
16: Pleasure
17: Anger
18: Impurity
19: Established in Dharma
20: The Path
21: Varied Verses
22: The Downward Course
23: The Elephant
24: Thirst
25: The Bhikshu
26: The Brahmin

Excerpt from The Dhammapada |

The Buddha did not leave a static structure of belief that we can affirm and be done with. His teaching is an ongoing path, a “way of perfection” which anyone can follow to the highest good. The Dhammapada is a map for this journey. We can start wherever we are, but as on any road, the scenery – our values, our aspirations, our understanding of life around us – changes as we make progress. These verses can be read and appreciated simply as wise philosophy; as such, they are part of the great literature of the world. But for those who would follow it to the end, the Dhammapada is a sure guide to nothing less than the highest goal life can offer.

Read a longer excerpt from The Dhammapada

Media Reviews and Endorsements |

“Our favorite translation is Eknath Easwaran’s The Dhammapada. His Indian heritage, literary gifts, and spiritual sensibilities (which have given us excellent translations of Hinduism’s Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) here produce a sublime rendering of the words of the Buddha. Verse after verse shimmers with quiet, confident authority. A bonus is the sparkling 70-page introduction to the Buddha’s life and teachings that precedes the translation.”
– Huston Smith and Philip Novak, Buddhism

“Easwaran’s The Dhammapada has a tone which is easy and contemporary. It is at once energetic and clear as well as mellifluous . . . his background as a professor of English literature has stood him in good stead.”
– Life Positive

“If you are interested in reading one of the gems of Buddhist literature, this is a good place to start, and if you are looking for a great version of this beloved scripture, you can’t do better. Like all great world literature, the verses here reward rereading and reflection, prompting you to ‘strive for wisdom always!’”
– Amazon.com Eastern Religion editor

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