Dhammapada
- Language:
- English
- Translation:
- Max Müller
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Recorded or compiled by others
- Condition of the text:
- Clean text
- Extent:
- ~11,600 words · 55 passages
Cite this work
- APADhammapada. (n.d.). Dhammapada. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/dhammapada/the-dhammapada
- MLADhammapada. "Dhammapada." SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/dhammapada/the-dhammapada.
- ChicagoDhammapada. Dhammapada. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/dhammapada/the-dhammapada.
What it is about
The Dhammapada: 423 verses, the most widely read Buddhist text.
Context and history
Part of the Pali canon, it gathers sayings attributed to the Buddha on the mind, anger, old age and the path. It has been memorised for two millennia, which is why it survives so well. English translation; the Pali original is not in the catalogue.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage. 2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. 3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease. 4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease. 5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule. 6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;--but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once. 7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled,
Themes in this work
Quotes
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.”
“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.”
“Not to commit any sin, to do good, and to purify one's mind, that is the teaching of (all) the Awakened.”