Dhammapada: Essential Teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha

by Gendün Chöphel

The Dhammapada has long been cherished by Buddhists of all traditions for its eloquent expression of basic Buddhist precepts. As a work of inspiration, it has universal appeal. Its themes remain fresh and glowing, as relevant today as 2500 years ago, when the Buddha first expressed them. While the Dhammapada is a collection of teachings given by the Buddha at different times and places, the effect is of a unified work. Over four hundred verses are gathered in twenty-six different themes, forming a rich pattern that interweaves variations on many of the Buddha's most essential teachings.Although the Dhammapada has been published in English in numerous publications, this particular version includes the Tibetan text on facing pages and extensive overview of over hundred Buddhist terms, a must for every student of Buddhism. It also includes a comprehensive word list and atrilingual glossary.Four hundred verses on twenty-six topics offer an inspiring compendium of teachings shared by all schools of Buddhism. The nature of mind, self, desire, and ignorance, as well as the beauty of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are succinctly expressed in memorable verses that have been quoted by Buddhist masters for centuries. Translated from Pali to Tibetan, and from Tibetan to English. Tibetan text on facing pages,and a word list make it a resource for Tibetan language study. An extensive glossary of Buddhist terms adds to its value for readers.

Genres: Buddhism

381 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 1985

About the author

Gendün Chöphel (Tibetan: དགེ་འདུན་ཆོས་འཕེལ, Wylie: dge 'dun chos 'phel) (1903–1951) was a Tibetan artist, writer and scholar. He was born in 1903 in Rabkong, Amdo. He was a creative and controversial figure and he is considered by many to have been one of the most important Tibetan intellectuals of the twentieth century.

Gendün Chöphel was a friend of Rahul Sankrityayan. His life was the inspiration for Luc Schaedler's film The Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet and The Madman's Middle Way: Reflections on Reality of the Tibetan Monk Gendun Chophel. He is best known for his collection of essays called Grains of Gold: Tales of a Cosmopolitan Pilgrimage, written during his time in India and Sri Lanka in between 1934 and 1946. These essays were critical of modern Hinduism, Christianity, and British imperialism. While condemning places and events like the Black Hole of Calcutta and the Goa Inquisition, he praised certain British colonial practices like the abolition of sati.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Gerardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

(IN SPANISH BELOW)

The Dhammapada is one of the most famous collections of aphorisms by the Buddha, ordered here in 26 chapters or main topics as diverse and interesting as "Anger", "Joy", "The Wise", "Old age", or "The World". Moreover, every one of the aphorisms is also written in Tibetan in the opposite page; adding this to the extensive collection of lists of Dharma terms (including First, Second, and Third turnings terms) and the the glossary of Dharma words, all of them in English, Sansrkit and Tibetan, makes this volume an invaluable resource to those both starting in the Dharma and in the study of its two main original languages.

The Dhammapada is a treasury of straight-to-the-point wisdom, both for Buddhists and non-Buddhists, for the words here refer to truths that go beyond ideology or religion. Thus, I really recommend the Dhammapada to anyone looking either for wisdom in a very accessible format, or those wishing to start studying canonical Buddhist texts, and especially to those who are interested in studying the Tibetan language.
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El Dhammapada es una de las colecciones de aforismos del Buda más famosas, ordenados aquí alrededor de 26 capítulos sobre temas tan diversos e interesantes como "Ira", "Alegría", "El sabio", "Vejez", o "El mundo". Además, cada uno de los aforismos también se encuentra escrito en tibetano en la página opuesta; añadiendo a esto la extensa colección de listas de términos del Dharma (que incluyen términos del Primer, Segundo y Tercer giros) y del glosario de palabras del Dharma, todos ellos en inglés, sánscrito, y tibetano, este volumen es un valiosísimo recurso para quienes estén comenzando en el Dharma y en el estudio de sus dos principales lenguajes originales.

El Dhammapada es un tesoro de sabiduría que va directo al grano, tanto para budistas como para no budistas, porque las palabras aquí contenidas se refieren a verdades que van más allá de la ideología o la religión. Por lo tanto, realmente recomiendo el Dhammapada a cualquiera que o bien busque sabiduría en un formato muy accesible, o a aquellos(as que deseen empezar a estudiar textos canónicos budistas, y especialmente a aquellos/as interesados en estudiar la lengua tibetana.