Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Penguin Classics (1980), Paperback, 96 pages
Description
Religion & Spirituality. Nonfiction. HTML: Whether you're a serious practitioner of Buddhism or someone who is interested in learning more about this ancient spiritual tradition, The Dhammapada offers a fascinating glimpse inside the Buddhist ethos. Comprised of verses attributed to the Buddha as well as commentary and parables, this sacred text is a must-read for those interested in one of the world's oldest religions..
User reviews
LibraryThing member Clara53
This is a golden nugget of a book - a tiny paperback containing tons of wisdom. Dhammapada (Dhamma in Pali, Dharma in Sanskrit - both meaning the Truth), the 423 aphorisms of the way of the Buddha, the Perfect Path, is translated from Pali language. The Introduction by Juan Mascaro, covering one
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third of the tiny book, is in itself a wonderful interpretation of what is to follow. A must book on one's bedside table. Show Less
LibraryThing member Anagarika
Simply beautiful! A reader can immerse oneself for days. An amazing translation. Beautiful! This book is small enough to carry around in a pocket, and I keep it with me at all times. It's that amazing.
LibraryThing member davidpwithun
The Dhammapada, a collection of sayings of the Buddha, is certainly a book filled with wisdom from a very wise man. It was great to read it and, as a Christian, to be able to appreciate his insights into human nature and into the nature of reality. Buddhist spirituality has always deeply impressed
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me and I was certainly not disappointed by reading this book. Easwaran's notes are generally very helpful, though his constant need to compare Christianity and Christ, neither of which he seems to understand very well, with Buddhism and the Buddha was a bit annoying at times. Overall, I think this is a book from which much insight can be gained and I recommend it to others as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
I doubt I have anything original to say about The Dhammapada, but I'll offer my tuppence-worth anyway.
Its message is a deceptively simple one, in essence "be kind, be mindful". In that, as the editor of my edition, Juan Mascaró, says, it has a commonality with the essence of every major world
The passages in the Dhammapada which particularly resonated for me on this reading were those that chime with the person-centred worldview based on the psychological theory of Carl R. Rogers. So, for example, chapters one and two (Contrary Ways and Watchfulness) had meaning for me in respect of Rogers' quality of Congruence: the awareness of the flow of thought and feeling in ourselves and how they arise and are more or less distorted through the lens of past experience and psychological defensiveness. Other chapters speak to me of the process of personality change and the movement from rigid, pre-defined views of the world, to a more fluid, in-the-moment 'way of being' (to borrow the title of one of Rogers' books). There are, for me, other correspondences (though I wouldn't go so far as to say there are exact matches throughout) which I won't elaborate on, but which added to the richness of my reading this time around.
I find it fascinating that a secular, science-based approach to understanding the nature of being human can arrive at some very similar conclusions to those underlying our oldest religious traditions. This is why, as an atheist, I'm still interested in religion. It's part of who we are and the tendency towards religious ways of experiencing is likely to continue unabated as a part of us.
I'm not personally inclined towards a belief in godhead, but the numinous feeling of universal oneness which I have sometimes (rarely) felt speaks to me of the deep relatedness which, at our best, we can recognise for each other as persons of intrinsic worth, regardless of any other perceived differences.
Its message is a deceptively simple one, in essence "be kind, be mindful". In that, as the editor of my edition, Juan Mascaró, says, it has a commonality with the essence of every major world
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religion. I guess the differences between religions are mainly in the particular cultural presentation of universal truths (and, perhaps, the lengths to which we go to justify deviating from the clearly marked path).The passages in the Dhammapada which particularly resonated for me on this reading were those that chime with the person-centred worldview based on the psychological theory of Carl R. Rogers. So, for example, chapters one and two (Contrary Ways and Watchfulness) had meaning for me in respect of Rogers' quality of Congruence: the awareness of the flow of thought and feeling in ourselves and how they arise and are more or less distorted through the lens of past experience and psychological defensiveness. Other chapters speak to me of the process of personality change and the movement from rigid, pre-defined views of the world, to a more fluid, in-the-moment 'way of being' (to borrow the title of one of Rogers' books). There are, for me, other correspondences (though I wouldn't go so far as to say there are exact matches throughout) which I won't elaborate on, but which added to the richness of my reading this time around.
I find it fascinating that a secular, science-based approach to understanding the nature of being human can arrive at some very similar conclusions to those underlying our oldest religious traditions. This is why, as an atheist, I'm still interested in religion. It's part of who we are and the tendency towards religious ways of experiencing is likely to continue unabated as a part of us.
I'm not personally inclined towards a belief in godhead, but the numinous feeling of universal oneness which I have sometimes (rarely) felt speaks to me of the deep relatedness which, at our best, we can recognise for each other as persons of intrinsic worth, regardless of any other perceived differences.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
This is a slim volume of Buddhist teachings- only a page or two per topic. It ranges from Anger, to Old Age. The wisdom presented is easily understood, but difficult to master. Regardless of what you believe, or religion you follow, there will be something for you to ponder on.
LibraryThing member jvalamala
The translation is a bit odd at times: Church for Sangha for instance. Not sure where the yin-yang on the cover comes from?
I'm sure there are better translations of this pop collection of Lord Buddha's teachings, but I wouldn't know as after reading I went straight to Bhikkhu Bodhi's excellent
I'm sure there are better translations of this pop collection of Lord Buddha's teachings, but I wouldn't know as after reading I went straight to Bhikkhu Bodhi's excellent
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translations of the Nikayas. Show Less
LibraryThing member signature103
Much better than the Penguin edition.
LibraryThing member booklove1
This is a lovely translation, but the word choices lean towards the Christan mind set.
LibraryThing member jefware
There is wisdom here hidden in verse form and covered over with years of translation. After decoding it is a great insight into Goatama Buddha,
LibraryThing member stillatim
I'm not silly enough to review the Dhammapada; I'm reviewing this edition. So, just know that the Roebuck translation in Penguin Classics is probably not great if you don't know much about Buddhism, but is glorious if you do. The notes are mostly stories that have been used to explain individual
Roebuck's introduction focuses on the textual history of the Dhammapada, which is useful for some scholarly purposes, I'm sure, but, again, not very useful if you're coming to ancient Buddhism for the first time. The glossary is very useful, though.
So, all in all, a very nice edition. The translation is readable without straining for poetry, which I liked.
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verses, which are often very fun, and give you more insight into the religion than more sanitized, Western readings (in which Buddhism is mostly about stabilizing your brain-wave patterns). Roebuck's introduction focuses on the textual history of the Dhammapada, which is useful for some scholarly purposes, I'm sure, but, again, not very useful if you're coming to ancient Buddhism for the first time. The glossary is very useful, though.
So, all in all, a very nice edition. The translation is readable without straining for poetry, which I liked.
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Awards
Language
Original language
Sanskrit
Original publication date
ca. 300 BC
Physical description
96 p.; 7.7 inches
ISBN
0140442847 / 9780140442847
Other editions
The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha by John Ross Carter (Paperback)