Work
Dhammapada
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About this work
The Dhammapada is one of the most loved Buddhist scriptures: a collection of the Buddha's sayings in verse, arranged by theme, from the mind and anger to happiness and the self. Its opening lines set its whole teaching, that we are shaped by our thoughts and become what we think. Brief, direct, and free of jargon, it is many readers' first and lasting encounter with Buddhism.
About the author — Buddha
The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was a teacher who lived in the Indo-Gangetic plains around the 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. Born to a royal family, he left that life to seek the end of suffering, and taught a practical path of ethics, meditation, and insight rather than a set of beliefs.
6 quotes from this work
As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.
“He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me” — in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease.
Conquer anger with love, evil with good, meanness with generosity, and lies with truth.
Wisdom is born of meditation; without meditation wisdom is lost.
To cease from evil, to do good, and to purify the mind — this is the teaching of all the Buddhas.
Whatever an enemy might do to an enemy, or a foe to a foe, the ill-directed mind can do to you even worse. Whatever a mother or father might do for you, the well-directed mind can do for you even better.
People also ask
What is the Dhammapada?
A collection of the Buddha's sayings in verse, one of the best known Buddhist texts. Its chapters group short teachings by theme, on the mind, craving, happiness, and the path to peace.
Was the Dhammapada written by the Buddha?
By tradition its verses are words the Buddha spoke on various occasions, later gathered and preserved in the Pali Canon. It was compiled by the early Buddhist community rather than written by him directly.
What is the main teaching of the Dhammapada?
That the mind comes first. We are formed by our thoughts, so freedom from suffering begins with training the mind toward clarity, restraint, and goodwill.