Essence of Buddhism embodied in Dhammapada
Premasara Epasinghe
UNIQUE TEXT: The Dhammapada is a book of wisdom. It is an
unmatched unique text, which sums up the essence of Tripitaka (Basket of
Buddhist Religious Texts).
Samadhi Buddha statue |
Dhammapada is sacred to Buddhists, as the Bhagavadgita to Hindus, Tao
Te Ching is for Taoisms the Chinese religion founded by Lao Tsu based on
Tao or way of Nature, the Holy Bible to Christians and Al-Koran to
Muslims. Therefore, Dhammapada can be considered as the most important
hand - book for all the Buddhists in the World. Many believe the essence
of Buddhism is embodied in the Dhammapada.
The gem of truth embodied in Dhammapada, aptly illustrates the moral
and philosophical teachings of the Buddha. It is one of the 15 books of
Kuddhaka Nikaya made up of 423 melodious, meaningful stanzas uttered by
the Enlightened One on about 300 occasions. Dhammapada is arranged under
26 chapters. They are:
(1) Yamaka Vagga (the Pairs); (2) Appamada Vagga (Heedfulness); (3)
Citta Vagga (the Mind); (4) Puppha Vagga (the Flowers); (5) Bala Vagga
(the Fool); (6) Pandita Vagga (the Wise); (7) Arahanta Vagga (the
Arahant); (8) Sahassa Vagga (the Thousands); (9) Papa Vagga (Evil); (10)
Danda Vagga (Punishment); (11) Jara Vagga (Old Age); (12) Atta Vagga
(The Self); (13) Loka Vagga (The World); (14) Buddha Vagga (The
Enlightened One); (15) Sukha Vagga (Happiness); (16) Piya Vagga
(Affection); (17) Kodha Vagga (Anger); (18) Mala Vagga (Impurities);
(19) Dhammattha Vagga (The Righteous); (20) Magga Vagga (the Path); (21)
Pakinnaka Vagga (Miscellaneous); (22) Niraya Vagga (Woeful state); (23)
Naga Vagga (The Elephant); (24) Tanha Vagga (Craving); (25) Bhikkhu
Vagga (The Mendicant) and (26) Brahmana Vagga (The Brahmana).
Dhammapada is a master-piece in Buddhist Literature. It is
undoubtedly the most popular widely acclaimed Buddhist text throughout
the World. It is an anthology of sayings which embody the ethical
doctrine of Buddhism.
There is not a single stanza in Dhammapada that cannot be dismissed
as unintelligible to a lay reader. By reciting or reading a stanza in
Dhammapada, your life will be mentally enhanced. There are many valuable
sayings, which will be useful in your day to day life.
I quote some stanzas that touched me so much and close to my heart.
It is from Pandita Vagga (stanza 81).
Selo Yatha ekaghano - Vatena na samirati
Evam Nindapasasanu - na samijjenti pandita
(As a solid rock that cannot be shaken by the wind - the Wise are not
moved by Blame or Praise - Translation from: Dr. Sarvapalli
Radhakrishan)
In the opening stanza of Bala Vagga (Fools) how effectively Samsara
is depicted. For it the witless, who knows not the sublime teachings
Dhammapada gives a fine example.
The story, woven round a distinguished Arahat, who was short in
height. Some novices used to pass remarks and harass this monk. This
particular monk has not shown no resentment. Even in our life, we
experience similar situations. Sometimes, we are praised. At times we
are heavily criticised and blamed. As a wise man what should be your
attitude?
Na bhaje papaka mitte - na bhaje purisadhame
Bhajatha mitta Kalyana - bhajetha purisuttame
(Pandita Vagga - 78)
(One should not associate, evil-minded and lowly men as friends; one
should only associate good and noble friends Kalyana Mitta)
It is a worthy advice for all of us -
If you associate low men, women and friends, your future is very bleak.
Therefore, associate good, honest, true friends, who will always stand
by you in difficulties. Dhammapada is a gold - mine of information.
General observation of everyday life is given in some verses in two
or three lines and the last line is an admonition either religious or
ethical.
The following verse in Pandita Vagga - Verse (So) can be quoted as an
example,
Udakam hi Nayanthi Nettika-usukara
Namayanthi Tejanam
Darum Namayanthi Tacchaka-attanam
Damayanthi Pandita
(Irrigation leads the water wherever they like; Hatchers bend the shaft,
the way they want; Carpenters bend the wood to suit their purpose. Even
so do Wise Men restraint themselves.)
In a verse in the Jara Vagga - Old Age)
Aneka Jati sansaram - Sandhavissam Nibhissam
Gahakaram Gavesanto - Dukkajathi-Punappuram
(Through many a birth have I wandered in Samsara seeking for the
House-Builder, but failed to trace him. Woeful is to be born again and
again)
In this "Lust" is compared to a "Builder of a House", who again and
again builds a new house i.e. a new body in a new birth.
Another Stanza, which depicts universal truth is found in Bala Vagga.
Well of course, many do not think about it.
Putta M'atthi Dhanam M'atthi - Iti balo vihannati
Atta hi attano natthi - kuto putta kuto dhanam
("I have sons; I have wealth" with such thoughts the fool is
tormented' When one does not belong to oneself, whence sons? whence
wealth?)
The Buddha Dhamma and its philosophy is summed up in a nut-shell in
one verse in Dhammapada in Buddha Vagga, which is recited by many
Buddhist daily.
Sabbapapassa akaranam - kusalassa upasampada
Sacittapariyodapanam - etam buddhana sasanam
- Dhammapada 183
(To refrain from doing evil, to indulge in doing food to cleanse
one's mind - this is)
In a stanza in the Bala Vagga (Fools)
Digha jagarato ratti - digham santassa yojanam
Digano balanam sansaro - Saddhaamma Avijanatam
(Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the mile to the tired;
and long is the Samsara to the witless who knows not the Sublime
Teachings.)
Here, a simile is used to show that Samsara, like a night to a person
who keeps awake, and a mile for a tired person to cover that distance.
The Dhammapada is the most popular and widely read Buddhist text
throughout the world. Its translations are available in, many languages;
Eastern and Western.
The first Buddhist canonical text published by a Danish scholar -
Victor Fausball in 1855 was Dhammapada. It was translated to many
languages and it helped many independent Thinkers, Philosophers, in the
world to appreciate the value of Buddha.
In 1855, Dhammapada was translated in to Latin. The world-renowned
great Buddhist scholar par-excellence Max Muller translated it. In Sri
Lanka, internationally reputed Ven. Narada of Vajiraramaya Temple,
Bambalapitiya in 1940, translated Dhammapada to English.
The Dhammapada and its commentary Dhammapadatta Katha have been a
source of influence for Buddhist in Sri Lanka. For example, even in
sermons in temples a verse or two in Dhammapada will be recited and
expand its theme with the help of material from the commentary.
Further, Dhammapada and Dhammapadatta Katha have also enriched
literature of Sinhala. It is evident from the classical Sinhala work
Saddharmaratnavali written by Venerable Dhammasena.
This Dhammapada is an anthology, (Collection of poems or pieces of
prose on the same subject or by the same writer) editing verses culled
from discourses mainly in the Samyutta and Anguttara Nikaya.
The exact date of compilation of the Dhammapada is not known. We
presume, Dhammapada gained its present shape at the Third Buddhist
Council held during the third century. B.C. Its origin has to be traced
back to a period prior to the First Buddhist Council.
There are four Chinese translations of the Dhammapada.
(1) FA - CHU - CHING (224 A.C.)
(2) FA - CHU - P1 - YU - CHING - (290-306 A.C.)
(3) CH'U - YAO - CHING (398 A.C.)
(4) FA - CHI - YAO - SUNG CHING (1000 A.C.)
These Chinese translations are based on Pali - Dhammapada and
Udanavaraga. They are not homogenous in character. In some translations
there are more verses than what is found in the Pali - Dhammapada or
Udanavaraga.
These additional material must have been taken from other sources
which are now lost. The metaphor is the use of a word or phrase to
indicate the literal meanings as in "I will make him to eat his words"
or "She has a heart of stone"
(Comparison of one thing with another, For example as a Brave as a
Lion) is known as a simile.
Similes and metaphors are abundance in the Dhammapada. Many believe
that the essence of Buddhism is embodied in the Dhammapada.
They say that to obtain Higher Ordination (Upasampada) the Novice
Bhikkus (Samanero) are expected to learn and memorise the stanzas of the
Dhammapada. |