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"Even as rain penetrates an ill-thatched house, so does lust penetrate an undeveloped mind. Dhammapada (Yamakavagga)"

Dhammapada - the oldest anthological treatise

by Aryadasa Ratnasinghe

Every Buddhist must have a copy of the Dhammapada at home, as its guiding light illuminates the mind to lead a virtuous life. He must read it and understand it, to achieve the best results.

The Dhammapada is a compendium of 423 verses abridged from the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka (one of the divisions of the Three Pitakas). The Sutta Pitaka contsists mainly of discourses delivered by the Buddha, during his 45 years of ministration. In addition, there are also few discourses delivered by some of his distinguished disciples, such as Ven. Sariputta, Moggallana and Ananda.

The Sutta Pitaka is divided into five divisions, i.e., the Digha Nikaya (collection of long discourses), Majjhima Nikaya (collection of discourses of medium length), Samyutta Nikaya (collection of cognate sayings), Anguttara Nikaya (collection of discourses in numerical order) and Khuddaka Nikaya (collection of smaller discourses).

The Khuddaka Nikaya consists of Khuddaka Patha (shorter texts), Dhammapada (the Way of Truth), Udana (paeons of joy) Iti Vuttaka ('Thus said' discourses), Sutta Nipata (collected discourses), Vimana Vattu (stories of celestial mansions), Peta Vattu (stories of 'petas' born in awful states), Theragatha (psalms of the brethren), Therigatha (psalms of the sisters), Jataka (birth stories), Niddesa (expositions), Patisambhida (analytical knowledged), Apadana (lives of arhants), Buddhavamsa (chronicle of the Buddha) and Cariya Pitaka (modes of conduct).

The Tripitaka of the Buddhist canon consists of Buddha's teachings, divided into three sections, viz: The Vinaya Pitaka (Code of Discipline), the Sutta Pitaka (Discourses) and Abhidhamma (the Ultimate Doctrine). To a deep thinker, the last is the most important Pitaka, because it contains the profound philosophy of the teachings of the Buddha, in contrast to the illuminating but simpler discourses of the Sutta Pitaka.

The Dhammapada, comprised of 26 'vaggas' (chapters), has expressions blended with exhortations so fascinating with its terse eloquence, so unusual and so inspiring, that the book can be considered the oldest anthological treaties in the world. It is a gospel with a timeless message, and has appealed to the human mind, for more than 2,500 years. It has enlightened the minds of many western scholars and intellectuals who held the view that it was one of the most sacred books of the East.

In 1855, the Dhammapada was translated into Latin by the erudite German scholar Fausboll. In 1870, Prof. Max Muller translated it into English, which received such publicity among the westerners, that it had to be reprinted many times. In 1914, the Pali Text Society, reprinted the Dhammapada, and F. L. Woodward rendered it into English in 1921. The educated westerners, irrespective of their religious convictions, studied the Dhammapada for spiritual emancipation, so that they could purify themselves from the dross of ignorance, both by example and by precept. Today, there are many Europeans who have embraced Buddhism, having realised the truth sans dogmatism.

The Dhammapada was not preached by the Buddha, in its present form. Three months after Buddha's demise (Maha Parinibbana) in BC 543, his disciples, who assembled at the First Buddhist Council, to rehearse the Dhamma, collected some of his golden utterances, expounded on different occasions, and arranged them in the present form, to suit the temperaments of the readers and listeners.

A valuable commentary on Dhammapada has been translated by E. W. Burlinghame, for the Harvard Oriental Series, with a view to make aware of the ethical, moral and philosophical system of Buddhism. It entails the importance of the mind as the fore-runner of all evil.

The Dhammapada is a gospel of timeless message, with hope and good cheer to the dejected, a message of wisdom to the ignorant, a message of caution to the unwary, a message of guidance to the sinner and a message of appreciation and encouragement, to those who are already on the correct path leading to Nibbana. While pointing out the dangers of an indolent irreligious life, it holds a clear prospect and a bright picture of beauty and grandeur for the spiritual minded. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the Oxford University in England (1936-1952), says "human conduct, righteous behaviour, reflection of self and meditation are more important than vain speculation about the transcendency. Dhammapada has an appeal to the modern world which is crumbling under the influence of wickedness".

Buddha said "Tanhaya jayati soko, tanhaya jayati bhayam, tanhaya vippa muttassa, natti soko kuto bhayam" (Dmp. 16:216). It means that from craving springs grief, from craving springs fear, and for him who is holy and free from craving, there is no grief, much less fear.

Dr. Cassius A. Pereira, who became a bhikku by the name of Kassapa, says "If I were to name any book, from the whole Tripitaka, I would, without hesitation, choose the Dhammapada. It is the best single book in all the wide world of literature, to bring solace either from misfortune or grief. One never turns in vain to these verses of incomparable value, either for advice, or for the alleviation of suffering, but for cheer and penetrating insight".

Bauddha Bhikshu Jeevithaye Hada Gasma

Review - J. A. K. Jayakody

The comprehensive code of ethics and the guidelines laid down by the Buddha for the smooth function and the perpetuity of the Sangha are discussed in depth in this book authored by Meegoda Pannaloka Thera, Senior Lecturer in Sri Jayawardanapura University, authority on Buddhism and well-known preacher in this country.

Buddhism preaches the middle-way of development and offers teaching which paves the path to both physical and mental development to acquire wisdom. The wisdom should not be construed as knowledge which can be acquired after listening, discerning, reading and observing the world around us.

Only in a mind devoid of mental hindrance, obstruction and other impurities, the wisdom dawns in reality.

Within the Sangha fashioned in line with the teaching of the Buddha there is no room for splitting up on caste line to cater to caste prejudices which are totally contrary to the teachings of the Buddha. It is said that this is a recent phenomenon; and the tradition, customs and prejudices of lay-society have influenced the Sangha to some extent.

To see the Buddha one must see Dhamma' this is a fact Buddha himself stated on many occasions. As for the laity to have a knowledge in Dhamma, good relationship with the Sangha is necessary.The code of ethics and guidelines professed by the great teacher make the Sangha exemplary and needed in the lay society where the advice of the clergy needed more than ever in this era of competition.

This is a book brought out by 'Sadeepa Publications' and written in classic language that should be read by everyone who wants to have a proper understanding of the d characteristics of the life-style of a Buddhist monk fashioned according to the teaching of the Buddha.

Renunciation

You are material form,

Form that tempts contact

To give the changing print-out of the World.

Where my eye dwells within your eye,

And in the light that glows

On lines that flow

In many modes of loveliness,

Stirred grace of stance and smile.

Where my ear awaits

Your voice in soft call,

Or song, or laughter,

While fingers tense for touch.

Where I crave your scent,

Pervasive as the fresh earth

After a sudden shower,

And the sweetness rising

In savoured bliss.

Where my mind seeks

To enter yours and merge

Consciousness entirely,

No boundary in between.

Yes, you are all the World,

Where swift sensation runs

Feeling into perception,

Perception into thought,

That patterns all Consciousness.

Death stole material form,

But thought runs bright,

So, will we rendezvous

In Worlds of Light?

- U. Karunatilake

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