Editorial Review

According to Eknath Easwaran, if all of the Buddhist sutras had been lost except the Read more

Reviews (21)

Interesting introduction to Buddhism
I have bought both this book, and for comparison, Byrom's rendering, and I suspect that Easwaran's translation is better. The verses are numbered, and Mara (the Buddhist version of Satan) is there in the verses, while Byrom apparently mistranslates it as 'desire'. Otherwise I cannot judge which translation is better.
Buddhism
You must rememeber. Buddhism is not a religion OR a belief system. Buddhism cannot tell you the way it can only point you toward it.

A lifetime companion
It simply is my most used book. I started just reading it, beginning with the elaborate introduction written by Easwaran. It gives an extremely insightful picture of what sort of person Buddha was and how important and inspiring he was in his own days. The translation itself is more than just a modern and appealing translation. I think the spiritual wisdom of Easwaran gives this translation an extra value.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. General    3. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    4. Religion    5. Buddhism   

Reviews (9)

Beautiful Little Treasure
This bok is a beautiful little hardcover with tons of wisdom packed between its decorative packaging. I go to it for inspiration or a bit of wisdom to meditate on, and I'm not Buddhist! A recommended spiritual classic that everyone should read. Priceless.

Great Book......A Must Have!
I just wanted to say that I have just finished reading the Dhammapada as translated by Gil Fronsdal, and I think this has to be the best version I have read thus far.

Skillful, beautiful translation
Thank you, Gil Fronsdal.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Spiritual life    6. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (11)

The Dhammapada
This translation of The Buddha's words is a must for any student of Buddhism.

Definitely one for the collection!
Clear, Concise, Lovingly Translated
This recent translation of this core text of Buddhism is wonderfully clear and concise. The translation seems both careful and modern.The translators avoid the common pitfall of attempting a "scriptural" diction or tone.I was very impressed with the clarity of this slender volume.Buy it.Read it.You won't be able to stop.It is THAT good. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Inspirational - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Buddhism    6. Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy    7. Religion / Zen Buddhism   

Reviews (15)

Interesting introduction to Buddhism.
This book is useful to anyone interested in knowing more about Buddhism. Unfortunately Byrom's translation does not seem to me to be the best. There are no verse numbers, and in comparing this to Easwaran's translation, I could see that the paragraphs do not always correspond to a new verse. Also Byrom removed the name Mara (Buddhist equivalent of Satan), replacing it usually with 'desire'.
Simply Fantastic, Fantastically Simple
Actual content aside, this version of the Dhammapada is sturdy and doesn't feel "cheap."The pages are nice and thick, the cover is beautiful without being loud or overly interesting, and the small size make it convenient to carry in whatever pocket you have to spare.
the Dhammapada
This particular Dhammapada is very nice to read,
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Buddhist Philosophy    3. Hinduism    4. Philosophy    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Buddhism    7. Religion / Hinduism    8. Works by individual poets: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (7)

PARA PENSAR
Cualquier persona que quiera conocer un poco más sobre las posiciones existenciales del budismo podrá encontrar en este libro poesía llena de gracia. Este camino le da ocho caminos de perfección:
Excellent little book of buddhist Wisdom
This is the best value for you money and time you will find in religious literature.This is an excellent translation of the Buddhist Dhammapada(Path of Truth). If you are not familiar with Buddhism, this is a great starting point.Laying out the wisdom of the Buddha, in what is probably very close to his original oral teachings. It is very similiar to the Bible's book of proverbs. It has an excellent introduction.It is a very very quick read,I believe this is some of the world's best wisdom literature. Youy can read the whole book in less than an hour and a half.Start here on your journey to enlightenment.
Beautiful and inspiring
The Dhammapada is one of the world's great religious classics, and its pithy, poetic style makes it very direct and inspiring.Like some of the other reviewers, I don't read Pali, and it's probably true that this isn't the most literal translation. However, I've read several translations of the Dhammapada and this has been my favorite for a long time.In any translation of a poetic nature, the translator must choose a certain balance between a strictly literal translation of the source material and a poetic rendering of the material in the target language, and Mascaro leans a little toward the latter.I've been a student of Buddhism for some years, though, and I find very few places where Mascaro's translation seems to be inaccurate --- even though there are other translations that may be a little more precise and literal.In any case, there are many Buddhist philosophical works where precision of terminology is critical, but, since the Dhammapada is a more general work consisting mainly of aphorisms, it's one work where a little poetic license seems acceptable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Comparative Religion    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Buddhism    6. Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy    7. Religion / Buddhism / Sacred Writings   

Reviews (7)

A Scholarly Dhammapada
The Dhammapada is a deeply-inspiring religious text and the best-known work of the Theravada Buddhist canon.It consists of 423 short verses arranged in 26 chapters which cover, in brief form, the major aspects of the Buddha's teachings from the most mundane to the deepest.About 25 percent of the verses appear elsewhere in the Theravada Buddhist canon.In many Buddhist countries, children memorize this text which has much to teach both the learned and the simple.In its combination of simplicity and depth, the closest analogue to the Dhammapada in the Jewish-Christian Scriptures is the book of Psalms.
Dhammapada as close to the Pali as the Buddha is to the hear
Carter and Palihawadana have done an excellet job keeping close to the Pali with their 1987 work. Excellent Translation
This is one of the finest versions of the classic Theravada text out there. Carter and Palihawadana managed to strike the perfect balance of getting the timeless message of the Buddha's teaching across while at the same time presenting it in a straight foward, easy to understand manner. Those who are unfamiliar with The Dhammapada will find this translation very accessible while those who are will greatly appreciate beautiful wisdom-filled verses that Carter and Palihawadana have so eloquently preserved. The Introduction and explanatory notes throughout the text also provide a great deal of rich knowledge which adds even more depth to this most cherished of work of Buddhist literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Islam    6. Literature: Texts    7. Religion & Theology | Buddhism    8. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (4)

Making "Buddhism" our own
A book like this is a window into a process.This is not an introduction to meditation practice itself (that territory is amply covered elsewhere) but a look at a young community of practitioners findings its way, and the Way, in 21st century Detroit. Providing a haven for the world...
P'arang (the Buddhist name of author Geri Larkin) does what very few other writers are able to do these days: Write a compelling, sometimes humorous, always fiercely insightful book that's hard to put down. Shine One Corner
Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike:read this book!! The Still Point Dhammapada is moving and wise - the translations of the Buddha's words are simple (in the best sense) yet, of course, profound.Equally compelling are the stories from the streets around the Still Point abbey and temple.There are lots of stereotypes about Detroit - and Larkin & co. add voice and vision so that readers can really get a feel for the life of the neighborhood and the practice of "guerilla kindness." But don't mistake this for some pollyanna-ish text;the stories are alternately heartbreaking, funny and gritty.Coupled with the verses from the dhammapada, they teach by showing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Buddhism - Sacred Writings    4. Commentaries    5. Dhammapada    6. Doctrines    7. Khuddakanikaya    8. Khuddakanikåaya.    9. Religion    10. Religion - World Religions    11. Suttapitaka    12. Suttapiòtaka.    13. Tipitaka    14. Tipiòtaka.    15. Religion / Buddhism / Sacred Writings   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Buddhism - Sacred Writings    3. Religion    4. Unabridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy    5. Books on Tape/CD    6. Buddhism   

Reviews (6)

Dhammapada: The Sayings of Buddha
This book was great!!!Not only did it have the sayings of Buddha, which were insightful in and of themselves, but the editor also provided witty, helpful comments between many of the aphorisms.I found it extremely helpful to my study of Buddhist culture and the religion itself.

OK Translation, Condescending Commentary
I picked this book up because of Cleary's wide reputation for translating Asian religious classics. The translation is pretty good, but the commentary is woefully insulting to Theravada Buddhism. In this book, Theravada is not referred to as Hinayana as it is in older Mahayana Buddhist books, but it is referred to exclusively as the Lesser Journey, essentially a literal translation of Hinayana. We are told that the Dhammapada, a staple of Theravada Buddhism, really belongs to the Greater Journey. (It should be remembered that Buddhism has no equivalent of the Bible, the Quran, or the Bhagavad Gita. Each Buddhist movement has its own favorite suttas. Some like the Lotus, others the Diamond, etc. However, the Dhammapada may be the most well known Buddhist primary scripture. Therefore, in Cleary's thinking perhaps, it has to be reclaimed for the Greater Journey.) It is translated, Cleary says, in that light. Truly, the translation is adequate, but it is the commentary that tries to force the work into Mahayana Buddhism. And it should be noted, only Zen Mahayana is mentioned, no word about Tibetan, Pure Land, or any other type of Buddhism, including, in Cleary's own estimation, the priggish and pessimistic Lesser Journey. We are told Cleary has a vast knowledge of spiritual wisdom from east and west, but truly his commentary shows his knowledge is of Zen, pre Buddhist Chinese works, and Islam. Impressive, but given that easy parallels with Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, and other forms of Buddhism could be made with the Dhammapada, it is hardly vast. Much of the work shows Cleary's abysmal knowledge of Theravada. We are told in Chapter X that compassion is ordinarily considered the hallmark of the Greater Journey, not usually associated with the Lesser Journey. Has he not heard of metta, the Theravada meditation practice of lovingkindness? I assume compassion is the hallmark of Mahayana only in Cleary's mind, and this bias has prevented him from clearly seeing the great goodness of Theravada. His summation of Theravada, the Lesser Journey, is found in the introduction. We are told that it is sterile and morbid, priggish and pessimistic. At least it is in the view of the Greater Journey... Translation is helpful, Cleary's comments are not
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Buddhist Philosophy    3. Eastern - General    4. Philosophy    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Religion / Eastern   

Reviews (3)

Ignore the first review
Ignore the first review.S. Radakrishnan is one of the shinning stars of the modern world: a great writer and intellectual.He is the man to listen to on eastern (and western for that matter) thought.His book on Eastern Religions and Western Thought is a powerful synthesis of mysticicsm from a global point of view, on a par with Evelyn Underhill's great book, Mysticism, which focuses on the west only.He was a genious and great man, and one of the first I hope to meet when I go to heaven.

Disappointment
Mr. Radhakrishan's intepretation of Dhammapada and Buddhism in general is twisted. He insist against basic Buddhist teachings many things for instance that there are permanent self and that Perhaps the best Dhammapada translation in English
Although difficult to find, S. Radhakrishnan's edition of the DHAMMAPADA is in my opinion the best version in print in English.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. India    6. Philosophy of religion    7. Religion & Theology | Buddhism    8. Religion / Buddhism   

Reviews (1)

An interpretation of an ancient text for modern humans.
This interpretation by Osho, ex Rajneesh, is amazingly appropiate for the modern man. As the Buddha 'is said to have said', "truth is that which works", this book works. Osho helps unravel these old teachings toserve us today. With amazing wit, and depth of understanding Osho giveslife to this teachings, giving new life to the Buddha's teachings. Oshobeing a great scholar and mystic seems to be giving an account of theexperience using Buddha's words, not as an intellectual exegisis, but fromthe experience itself. If what this man, Osho, says is true of humanpotential, it understandeable that he was kicked out of America. His wordswere too revolutionary for the system to accept. His revolution (revolt ashe calls it) is not violent nor social, but inner an individual. Basically,the book proposes that if you want change to happen, better start bychanging yourself. All the rest follows. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions   

Editorial Review

Nearly every line of the Dhammapada, from the first "All that we are is the result of what we have thought," is quotable and worth ruminating over. Eloquent, insightful, and brief, this Buddhist scripture is the kind of book that finds its way into purses, backpacks, and briefcases for perusal anytime, anywhere. The call of the Dhammapada is to the path of awakening, to undertake the effort of meditation, and to see through the veneer of the suffering life. In this rendition by author and Zen student Jack Maguire, it retains its purity and insight while offering more in the way of textual understanding. Maguire begins with Max Muller's late-19th-century translation, which, although problematic at points, stands the test of time. He then polishes and adds numerous notes on facing pages about the text itself and about Buddhist concepts. A fluid and critical translation of a masterpiece of Buddhist literature, Maguire's Dhammapada is worth taking out of your bag anytime, anywhere. Read more

Reviews (2)

Majestic Gift /Beautifully Translated
The Dhammapada (in Pali/the Lankan scriptural language as derived from the original Pankrit), or the Dharmapada (in Sanskrit), the Pali being the original, in this case, is a pocket-size selection of the "essence" of Gotama Buddha's thought (the dhamma, or dharma) culled from the massive Tripitaka, the comprehensive collection of all of the Buddha's recorded discourses.The selection was made by the Sangha (the Buddhist community (in those days monks and nuns) somtime between 200 to 700 years after the death of Gotama Buddha in the fifth century B.C.The succintness, gravity, and beauty of these verses has more than stood the test of time. Easy access to Buddhist wisdom.
I read this translation of The Dhammapada ("the path of dharma") simultaneously, line by line, with Eknath Easwaran's translation.Although in the end I prefered the latter translation, I found the annotations and commentary in Muller's translation very insightful.You don't have to be a Buddhist nun or monk to appreciate the wisdom of The Dhammapada; rather, it has been said that The Buddha intended these teachings for everyone.Easwaran has observed that if all of the Buddha's other teachings were lost, The Dhammapada would be enough to understand Buddha's wisdom, and Muller's translation provides easy access to that wisdom."All that we are is the result of what we have thought"--these opening lines set the theme of the entire Dhammapada: namely, the importance of training the mind.Muller's translation with its accompanying commentary is a good place to start down the path of Buddhist dharma.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Spirituality - General    5. Buddhism    6. Sacred texts   

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. General    4. Philosophy    5. Religion   

Reviews (7)

Edition for those whose pocketbooks are on a diet
I had to read this edition for my World Literature course and I was happy with the price (can't beat it!) and happy with the fact that it is free of scholarly interpretations, which can color the reader's opinions and/or perceptions.It also leaves the reader to come to their own conclusions.
A Majestic Gift Beautifully Translated
The Dhammapada (in Pali/the Lankan scriptural language as derived from the original Pankrit), or the Dharmapada (in Sanskrit), the Pali being the original, in this case, is a pocket-size selection of the "essence" of Gotama Buddha's thought (the dhamma, or dharma) culled from the massive Tripitaka, the comprehensive collection of all of the Buddha's recorded discourses.The selection was made by the Sangha (the Buddhist community (in those days monks and nuns) somtime between 200 to 700 years after the death of Gotama Buddha in the fifth century B.C.The succintness, gravity, and beauty of these verses has more than stood the test of time. Diet Dhammapada
I found this edition to be more than adaquete to the casual reader desiring to become better acquainted with Buddhist beliefs.Its lack of lengthy commentary (no more than a 2-page introduction and brief, explanatory footnotes) actually serves to make it highly accessible to the casual reader.This is the Dhammapada in its rawest form, free of someone else's interpretation.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Eastern - General    3. General    4. Religion    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Buddhism    7. Philosophy / Eastern   

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Buddhism    5. Religion / Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Buddhism - Sacred Writings    3. Criticism, Textual    4. Dhammapada    5. Gautama Buddha    6. History - General History    7. Khuddakanikaya    8. Khuddakanikåaya.    9. New Age    10. Pre-existence    11. Purvayogas    12. Religion    13. Suttapitaka    14. Suttapiòtaka.    15. Tipitaka    16. Tipiòtaka.    17. Translating & Interpreting    18. Other prose: classical, early & medieval   

Reviews (4)

"Gather a well-taught verse on the way"
Just as there are many translations of the Christian Bible with virtues to be gained from studying each one, there are also many translations of this great Buddhist classic, "The Dhammapada" which Glenn Wallis subtitles "Verses on The Way" (The Path).
The Dhammapada : Verses on the Way
This is beautiful.What can I say?There are few sources of spiritual teachings as eloguent and full of truth as that taught by the Buddha.
great wisdom, fine translation, learned commentary
THE DHAMMAPADA is a core text of the buddha-dharma.It summarizes in verse form the basic teachings of the Buddha, and is used by all traditions (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana).This is a superb new translation by Glenn Wallis, a Sanskrit scholar.There are some passages (including the opening verse!) which I find to be more felicitously phrased in other translations, but Wallis makes a strong case for his choices in the commentary, and in most cases creates beautiful, flowing verses in modern English.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Dhammapada    4. Khuddakanikaya    5. Khuddakanikåaya.    6. Religion    7. Religion - World Religions    8. Spiritual life    9. Suttapitaka    10. Suttapiòtaka.    11. Tipitaka    12. Tipiòtaka.    13. Religion / Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. Buddha,religion,Buddhism,East,sacred books,Siddhartha Gautama,muller    2. Religion / Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. HOME REFERENCE - DECORATING TRD PB    5. Religion / Buddhism