The Dhammapada
Anonymous (Pali canon) · tr. F. Max Müller · c. 3rd century BCE (tr. 1881) · 11,903 words
The Buddha’s path in verse: mind is the forerunner of all things, and the one who conquers himself is the greatest of conquerors.
Opening
Chapter I: The Twin-Verses
1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
3. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.
4. "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"—in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.
5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.
6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;—but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.
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Contents
- Chapter I: The Twin-Verses
- Chapter II: On Earnestness
- Chapter III: Thought
- Chapter IV: Flowers
- Chapter V: The Fool
- Chapter VI: The Wise Man (Pandita)
- Chapter VII: The Venerable (Arhat)
- Chapter VIII: The Thousands
- Chapter IX: Evil
- Chapter X: Punishment
- Chapter XI: Old Age
- Chapter XII: Self
- Chapter XIII: The World
- Chapter XIV: The Buddha (The Awakened)
- Chapter XV: Happiness
- Chapter XVI: Pleasure
- Chapter XVII: Anger
- Chapter XVIII: Impurity
- Chapter XIX: The Just
- Chapter XX: The Way
- Chapter XXI: Miscellaneous
- Chapter XXII: The Downward Course
- Chapter XXIII: The Elephant
- Chapter XXIV: Thirst
- Chapter XXV: The Bhikshu (Mendicant)
- Chapter XXVI: The Brahmana (Arhat)