The Dhammapada, Chapter 1: The Pairs

According to tradition, the Dhammapada's verses were spoken by the Buddha on various occasions."By distilling the complex models, theories, rhetorical style and sheer volume of the Buddha's teachings into concise, crystalline verses, the Dhammapada makes the Buddhist way of life available to anyone...In fact, it is possible that the very source of the Dhammapada in the third century B.C.E. is traceable to the need of the early Buddhist communities in India to laicize the ascetic impetus of the Buddha's original words. The text is part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka, although over half of the verses exist in other parts of the Pali Canon. A 4th or 5th century CE commentary attributed to Buddhaghosa includes 305 stories which give context to the verses.

The title, "Dhammapada," is a compound term composed of dhamma and pada, each word having a number of denotations and connotations.

Transcript

Dhammapada,

Chapter 1,

The Pairs.

All states of being are determined by mind.

It is mind that leads the way.

Just as the wheel of the ox-carve follows the hoof-print of the animal that draws it,

So suffering will truly follow when we speak or act impulsively from an impure state of mind.

All states of being are determined by mind.

It is mind that leads the way.

As surely as our shadow never leaves us,

So well-being will follow when we speak or act with a pure state of mind.

When we hold fast to such thoughts as they abused me,

Mistreated me,

Molested me,

Robbed me,

We keep hatred alive.

If we thoroughly release ourselves from such thoughts as they abused me,

Mistreated me,

Molested me,

Robbed me,

Hatred is vanquished.

Never by hatred is hatred conquered,

But by readiness to love alone.

This is eternal law.

Those who are contentious have forgotten that we all die.

For the wise who reflect on this fact,

There are no quarrels.

As a stormy wind can uproot a frail tree,

So one who holds heedlessly to pleasure,

Who indulges in food and is indolent,

Can be uprooted by Mara.

As a stormy wind cannot move a mountain of rock,

So one who contemplates the reality of the body,

Who develops faith and energy,

Is unmoved by Mara.

Wearing the robe of a renunciate does not in itself render one pure.

Those who wear it and yet lack diligence are heedless.

Being possessed of self-restraint,

Honest and diligent in conduct,

Such a one is worthy of the renunciate's robe.

Mistaking the false for the real and the real for the false,

One suffers a life of falsity.

But seeing the false as the false and the real as the real,

One lives in the perfectly real.

Like rain leaking through a poorly thatched roof,

The unruly passions seep into an untamed heart.

As rain cannot penetrate a well-thatched roof,

So the passions cannot enter a well-trained heart.

When we see clearly our own lack of virtue,

We are filled with grief.

Here and hereafter we grieve.

When we appreciate fully the benefit of our own pure deeds,

We are filled with joy.

Here and hereafter there is a celebration of joy.

Here and hereafter those who perform evil create their own suffering.

Mental preoccupation with the thought,

I have done wrong,

Possesses their minds,

And they fall into chaos.

Here and hereafter those who live their lives well abide in happiness.

They are filled with a natural appreciation of virtue,

And they dwell in delight.

Though one may know much about Dhamma,

If one does not live accordingly,

Like a cow-bird who covets another's cattle,

One experiences none of the benefits of walking the way.

Knowing only a little about Dhamma,

But wholeheartedly according with it,

Transforming the passions of greed,

Hatred and delusion,

Releasing all attachments to here and hereafter,

One will indeed experience for oneself the benefits of walking the way.

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Reviews

Very enjoyable. It’s adds a lot to a meditation session. I wish you had the entire Dhammapada available in English.
Thank you.

The Budhha s wisdom teachings read wonderfully.

i love your voice and the dhammapada. i just wish you didn’t use music in the background.
i find it a bit distracting.

Beautifully done!

The music and voice of reader are powerful and lovely way to deliver the teachings. Thank you so much 🙏

Enjoyed this very much however the background music is distracting something gentler or even just the flowing water would be better I think.

Great wisdom, I am so glad I came across this. Thank You 🙏🏻

Beautiful and soul jarring. A necessary listen to realign the mind and soul to one's Path.

Thank you Vittorio.🕉☸

Thank You! Have bookmarked this inspirational interpretation of Chapter 1, Dhammapada.

A gift of words and sounds. Thank you!

Thank you. Good for thought would like more. 🌺🙏🏻

Cool music, great teachings but they didn't seem to go together yet I enjoyed thoroughly.