The Dhammapada (Easwaran's Classics of Indian Spirituality, 3)

Classics Endure the Test of Time—Virtues Are Friends Faithful to the EndWhen I see how few people comment or rate this book compared to contemporary bestsellers with all their sex and violence, my heart is hooked into commenting on how much I enjoyed my copy of this edition.Reverend Easwaran’s edition of Siddhartha Gautama’s (the Buddha’s) DHAMMAPADA was my first real introduction to Buddhism. And I love it! You too can dive into the thrills of the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path—the teachings central to the whole of Buddhism. (This translator’s introduction, by the way, explains the Eightfold Path in a colorful and inspiring way which is lacking in Siddhartha Gautama’s DHAMMAPADA itself or in Paul Carus’s GOSPEL OF BUDDHA.) The loveliness of the original sacred text is that it has been around long enough to become widely affordable and available to the masses; that it is life-changing and helps you to become awakened or enlightened, doesn’t hurt either.I myself am something of a holy madman, having obsessed for much of my adult life with Christian salvation as well as living in poverty (wrongfully thinking that opinions and poverty be the way to God’s heart). So I can attest to the many similarities and differences between Buddhism (whether you deem it a religion or philosophy) and the Christian faith..It may say in this book of the importance of meditation on the “dharma” itself—known to us Westerners of the Bible as the Moral Law.As it says in Philippians: Chapter 4:“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”And in the 19th Psalm:“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”A.K.A. the Moral Law.This is our meditation! The Ten Commandments! The Beatitudes!And in Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths! The Noble Eightfold Path!Paul Carus’s GOSPEL OF BUDDHA spells it out for us. Because, Carus’s researched “Avoiding the Ten Evils” somewhat approximates the morality of Easwaran’’s explained Noble Eightfold Path:Avoiding the Ten EvilsI. Kill not, but have regard for life.II. Steal not, neither do ye rob; but help everybody to be master of the fruits of his labor.III. Abstain from impurity, and lead a life of chastity.IV. Lie not, but be truthful. Speak the truth with discretion, fearlessly and in a loving heart.V. Invent not evil reports, neither do ye repeat them. Carp not, but look for the good sides of your fellow-beings, so that ye may with sincerity defend them against their enemies.VI. Swear not, but speak decently and with dignity.VII. Waste not the time with gossip, but speak to the purpose or keep silence.VIII. Covet not, nor envy, but rejoice at the fortunes of other people.IX. Cleanse your heart of malice and cherish no hatred, not even against your enemies; but embrace all living beings with kindness.X. Free your mind of ignorance and be anxious to learn the truth, especially in the one thing that is needful, lest you fall a prey either to scepticism or to errors. Scepticism will make you indifferent and errors will lead you astray, so that you shall not find the noble path that leads to life eternal.This is what we should call, in place of an Awareness Meditation, Imagery-Guided Meditation, or Breathing Meditation, a MORAL MEDITATION.It is the meeting ground between liberals and conservatives. Incidentally, this explains for us too the disappointment that several of these reviewers have in this translator’s edition: it is too liberal for them. Now we have this exact same phenomenon in Christian texts. Oftentimes Christians’ works are deemed as unscholarly simply for going in a different direction with the same text. The conservatives gang together and bully out alternate perspectives. For examples: in saved by our works versus substitutionary atonement, or in the symbolism versus literalness of the resurrection. I am not saying one is right and the other is wrong. But I do feel that science is one ear and tradition the other. (Or one eye and the other, etcetera.) (By “science,” I mean personal experience, as opposed to the past experiences of tradition.) It oftentimes isn’t enough to say, “But So-and-So says …” Therefore, I have no problem whatsoever with the occasional liberal interpretations that may or may not come across in this translation. That said, there are such beautiful passages in versions of the public domain, free of cost for being over 100 years old, and you can find both it and THE GOSPEL OF BUDDHA at manybooks.net, as well as other public domain sites.The beauty of Paul Carus’s GOSPEL OF BUDDHA is somewhat comparable to that of this reviewed edition: it covers the Buddha’s epic birth, ministry, and death. Yet here in Easwaran’s skillful representation, it is in many ways simpler language, more brief, and tackles more directly what it means to reach enlightenment and/or nirvana. I myself have rarely had that feeling of suffering‘s termination. I suppose that feeling comes after every major lesson in our existence, for it is in the corrective nature of suffering to taper off after each lesson that we learn.Rev. Easwaran points out the glory of karma in his intro: karma is very much like cleaning your room: you enjoy the fruits of your own labor—similar to Jesus’s “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (MATTHEW: Chapters 5 - 7, or the Sermon on the Mount.)In the commentary of this edition’s chapter “Varied Verses,” the commentator plainly says, This verse is the central verse to the whole book. And that verse is the following:“If by leaving a small pleasure one discovers a great pleasure, then let a wise man leave a smaller pleasure for a greater one.”You would think then by leaving sexual pleasure you would discover greater pleasures. There may be some truth to this, but I am finding in my Buddhist thoughts as well as my Christian thoughts that sexuality for a great number of people is no mere desire; for so many, it is outright a necessity. I don’t know what trick or secret the religionists think they have discovered, but I feel no shame in admitting the fact of the necessity. Perhaps the traditionalists have become over-proud of their God or Philosophy, as many do fall into a celibate-priestly-pedophilia; in the opposite way the scientists and the progressives can be accused of atrocities in the other direction—of carelessly making children or having sacrificed one too many fetuses. As Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) via Reverend Easwaran suggests: we would take the Middle Path. As Jesus (the Christ) suggests, “blessed are the peacemakers:” the martyrs who are crushed between two opposing groups.Yet there are delights and adventures in finding that bigger pleasure that is virtue. Giving up extremes, we would find in moderation all of our needs being met. We would no longer demand this or demand that, but learn to do without things like greed, violence, or lust (lust in the sense of uncontrolled sexual desire; I do not mean a controlled desire, however). Without these vices, we discover that life is full of other pleasures, of real virtues: generosity, compassion, devotion, focus, diligence, joy (a balance of both sadness and happiness), peace, patience, and so on, these things making up the word we know of as LOVE.

This version of The Dhammapada is great. Easwaran adds just enough context to make the teachings hit home without overexplaining. It feels like guidance from someone who truly lives what he writes. A great intro to Buddhist wisdom. Highly recommend

Easwaran is an amazing author who can bring out the meaning of the ancient text beautifully. As you read the book, you can tell he 100% is dedicated to this way of life. Additionally, I don't think a reader of any other book on Buddhism will fully understand the simplicity of The Way of Buddha that Easwaran brings out, nor the fundamental importance of meditation in our everyday life. He writes:"Someone once asked the Buddha skeptically, 'What have you gained through meditation?' The Buddha replied, 'Nothing at all.' 'Then, Blessed One, what good is it?' 'Let me tell you what I lost through meditation: sickness, anger, depression, insecurity, the burden of old age, the fear of death. That is the good of meditation, which leads to nirvana.' (79)"My one gripe about the book is I think it would be better to have Dhammapada text in its entirety somewhere in the book so the reader could simply reference the ancient text itself. As it is, Easwaran provides commentary between the different chapters of the text which break up the readings.

My religious roots are from the Christian faith. It was at a rather young age in my teens, that I began to question the doctrines of Christianity, such as an eternal hell. I some how never believed that one would go to hell forever, that they would some how have another life to redeem themselves. I even believe that I have had my share of past lives.I first read Max Muller's "Wisdom of the Buddha - The Unabridged Dhammapada" and I was immersed by Buddha's teachings. So much depth in the wisdom, yet so many unanswered questions for me. I also felt that I had much self work to do and much detachment from selfish desires to even call myself a Buddhist.I then discovered Eknath Easwaran's translation of "The Dhammpada" and I became even further immersed in the life of Prince Siddhartha - Buddha. I really like how Easwaran first explains the life of Buddha in the introduction of this book. How being born into royalty and how at the age of twenty-nine, Buddha became exposed to the suffering of this world. To abandon a privileged life and seek an answer to end all suffering. It is a beautiful life and story that Easwaran explains in a high intellect and articulation. It was liberating for me to learn in this book that even Buddha before his illumination, realized that austerity was not the path to enlightenment. That the path to enlightenment was in choosing The Middle Path - to roll The Wheel of Dharma in the Eightfold Path.Each chapter of this Dhammapada is first introduced by S. Ruppenthal in a language and voice as if you are listening to a master tell the story of Buddha. Then to read the enlightening words of Buddha that puts answers on life's biggest questions. How one does minimize and eliminate suffering. I have never found such answers in the Christian faith as I have in this book. Truly one dissolves karma and suffering in the Eightfold Path as well as lose selfish desires in meditation. I have learned that in this book. It has been life changing.