DhammapadaThe Dhammapada, the Pali version of one of the most popular texts of the Buddhist canon, ranks among the classics of the world's great religious literature. Like all religious texts in Pali, the Dhammapada belongs to the Therevâda school of the Buddhist tradition, adherents of which are now found primarily in Kampuchea, Laos, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Dhammapada, or 'sayings of the dhamma', is taken to be a collection of the utterances of the Buddha himself. Taken together, the verses form a key body of teaching within Buddhism, a guiding voice along the struggle-laden path towards true enlightenment, or Nirvana. However, the appeal of these epithets of wisdom extends beyond its religious heritage to a general and universal spirituality. This edition provides an introduction and notes which examine the impact that the text has had within the Buddhist heritage through the centuries. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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1st pub Abhidharma Arahant arises fear arises grief arrow attachment attained awake they arise Awakened awareness better bhikkhu birth blessing body Brahmin Buddha Buddhist canon Buddhist teaching Buddhist tradition call a bra¯hman˙a calm canonical texts Chapter childish Commentary explains conquer craving creeper dear death deficient in wisdom defilements delight detrimental dhamma true disciples of Gotama ease elephant enmity five aggregates forest Four Noble Truths fruit Ga¯ndha¯rı gods gone heedless insight intoxicants John Brough khandhas king language live a hundred ma¯luva Ma¯ra meditation mental mind misery monks Myanmar Nibba¯na Noble Eightfold Path one’s oneself Oxford World’s Classics Pali Canon Pali Text Pali Text Society pañña perception person preoccupying tendencies purity realm recluse refuge religious restrained sam˙kha¯ras sam˙sa¯ra San˙gha Sanskrit sensual pleasures set free sorrow speech Sri Lanka stain stanzas suffering supreme Tatha¯gatas Therava¯da school translated unawareness verses virtue Whence fear wholesome deeds wise wrong views Yama