Dhammapada means the course of the Dhamma.It is one of the most popular and essential Buddhist texts containing the mentors of the Buddha about virtue and righteous conduct on the Eightfold Course. It nicely summarizes the entire Buddhist way of living and the significant features of right living in an extremely easy and direct language suggested for both the monks and the lay fans of Buddhism. In reality the text contains practical knowledge that transcend spiritual barriers and can be followed by even those who do not practice Buddhism.The following are the ten essential teachings of the Buddha from the Dhammapada.
1. Let a pandita admonish, let him teach, let him forbid what is improper. He will be dearer to the good, but he will be disliked by the evil.
A Pandita is a Sanskrit name for a smart person, a scholar who is well versed in the knowledge of Dharma. A Pandita has both understanding and discretion. For this reason he is fit to teach, and inform you what is proper. Since, he speaks reality he will be enjoyed by those who enjoy truth and disliked by those who dislike fact.
2. When this world is burning how can there be laughter and how can there be pleasure? Why do you not look for the light, you who are surrounded by darkness?
The burning signifies the impermanence of presence. The world goes through alter, instability, decay and deterioration. The very same uses to our bodies and all the objects to which we cling. Hence, when everything is rotting and continuously changing, how can anybody be happy or safe in this world? That is the significance.
3. Not to blame, not to strike, to live limited under the law, to be moderate in eating, to sleep and sit alone, and to dwell on the greatest ideas, this is the direction of the Awakened.
The Awakened one(Arhat) is he who has attained the state (arhata) of liberation. He has actually stabilized and liberated his mind, having actually ended up being free from desires, duality, and wicked thoughts. For this reason he does not blame, or not enjoy violence. Instead, he practices right coping with self-restraint, and follows the Middle Path of moderation in eating drinking and sleeping.
4. Health is the greatest of presents, contentedness the very best of the riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana is the highest happiness.
Health, satisfaction, trust and Nirvana all emerge from the practice of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Health refers to the state of the body, satisfaction describes the state of the mind, trust refers to the practice of Dharma, and Nirvana refers to the achievement of the greatest freedom through them. The very first three cause the last.
5. Let, therefore, no man desire anything; loss of the precious is evil. Those who want nothing and hate nothing, have no fetters.
This describes freedom from desires and liberty from destination and aversion. An awakened person is free from both tourist attraction and hostility. The idea is that you need to be from all dualities or pairs of opposites.
6. He who has virtue and intelligence, who is simply, speaks truth, and does what is his own business, him the world will hold dear.
A genuinely experienced individual lives his own life, chooses to be alone, prevents the company of evil people, however does not impose himself upon others or criticizes them.
7. There never was, there never ever will be, nor is there now, a male who is constantly blamed, or a male who is always applauded. The human mind is unpredictable. The world is impermanent. For this reason no one can take riches or popularity for given. The world may praise you today and condemn you tomorrow. For that reason, one must not cling to external things for one’s peace and joy.
8. The sensible who control their bodies, who manage their tongues, who control their minds, are
certainly well managed. This discusses restraint at 3 levels, physical, psychological and spoken. The Eightfold Course must be practiced at all the 3 levels. Then only it qualifies as the real practice.
9. If a male takes care of the faults of others, and is always inclined to be upset, his own enthusiasms will grow, and he is far from the damage of passions.
Where you focus your mind is important. What you believe grows in your mind. If you concentrate on the evil of others it grows in you. Hence it is better to focus on positive things instead of unfavorable qualities such as anger, fear and hatred.
10. All kinds are unbelievable, he who understands and sees this becomes passive in pain; this is the way that results in purity.
The kinds are unbelievable since they are mere aggregates held together by desires. They disintegrate upon death. Thus who knows that name and form are mere formations discovers to accept his pain likewise as a development and bears it with indifference.
