Daily News Online

DateLine Tuesday, 28 August 2007

News Bar »

News: Massive protests against Sethu  ...        Political: President's move timely: CWC  ...       Business: New Tourism Act hailed  ...        Sports: Veronica, the sprint queen  ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Essence of Buddhism embodied in Dhammapada

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.

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
www.cf.lk/hedgescourt
Ceylinco Banyan Villas
www.srilankans.com
www.greenfieldlanka.com
www.ceylincocondominiums.com
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2006 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor