Dhammapada: Meaning and Message

The Dhammapada, which means ‘The Path of Virtue’ or The Path of Truth’ is the most valuable book for understanding Buddhism as it gives the essence of the teachings of the Buddha. Hence, it is the most popular book amongst the Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. The Pali Dhammapada was in fact the first Buddhist text ever published in Europe. It was published with a Latin translation by a Danish Professor, Victor Fausboll, in 1855. By now, it has become a world classic, and has been translated into almost all the major languages of the world. In this volume is presented an English translation of the Pali-Dhammapada by a distinguished Buddhist Monk and Pali scholar, venerable A.P. Buddhadatta of Sri Lanka. The meaning and message of the Dhammapada is analysed and explained by eight eminent scholars, which include two Sri Lankan Buddhist Monks, Ven. Narada and Ven. Piyadassi, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi of America, and five Indians, namely, the well-known Osho, Ven. Acharya Buddharakkhita, Prof. L.M. Joshi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and A.K. Bandyopadhyay. The Dhammapada is also available in Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In the last chapter, the editor makes an interesting comparative study of the Pali, Prakrit and Sanskrit Dhammapadas as well as their translations in the Chinese and Tibetan languages. All this information naturally makes this book a unique study of the Dhammapada.