Dhammapada

by Purushottama Lal

The Dhammapada consists of twenty-six poems of chapters, with a total of 423 verses, attributed to the Buddha himself. These verses are an almost complete presentation of Buddhist ethics, much of it in actual practice today. As the Buddhist "way of truth" (pada, meaning path or way; dhamma, the teaching), The Dhammapada thus offers an invaluable insight into the nature of the Buddhist mind and its response to life.

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

After all these years I finally read this core Buddhist scripture and was surprised to find it neither moving nor inspirational. Relieved to learn that scholars also find it to be a hodge-podge of "be pure and good - go to heaven" sayings. John Brough said it's "a patchwork of cliches." Yes, that's about it.
When compared to the Ashtavakra Gita or the Sermon on the Mount (with which it shares many ideas), it doesn't hold a flame. Feel like a traitor saying this, but there it is.

[JD Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this is the best translation available. The free verse rendition does it justice. This makes it a fine addition for those who like homilies.