Thomas Cleary, the widely acclaimed and respected translator of Asian philosophy, now provides a new and vibrant translation of one of the most beloved and accessible works of early Buddhism: the Dhammapada. In a rendering that is both classical and contemporary, he faithfully restores the simple purity and elegance of the original text.
The quest for inner peace and individual liberation is one of the most ancient endeavors of humankind. Five hundred years before Christ, Gautama Buddha became one of the great leaders in that spiritual journey. The Dhammapada is a collection of Buddha's sayings as passed down by his followers and drawn from the seminal Pali Canon. It is perhaps the best primer of Buddhism. Its teachings on the dhamma, the moral path of life, encourage the development of self-mastery and strength of character and point the way toward a heightened awareness of self and reality ... and toward the ultimate attainment of enlightenment.
Punctuated with the translator's insightful notes and comments, the Dhammapada brings to life the independence of thought and freedom of spirit of Buddha, making this remarkable work not only a text on living but a living text.