The Dhammapada is one of the Pāli Buddhist scriptures, the Tipiṭaka(three baskets), which is a collection of quotations from Gautama Buddha’s teachings in concise words.
In Pāli, dhamma means “truth“. Truth is the law of nature, the teachings of Buddha, and all existence and phenomena. Pada, originally the word for foot, means “steps“. Dhamma and pada together mean “steps in truth“,”path of the Buddha’s teachings“.
423 tips for living
The Dhammapada contains 423 verses in 26 thematic chapters.
These verses are taken from various sermons given by the Buddha during the course of his 45 years of teaching, as he traveled with his disciples through the valleys of the Ganges river and the subalpine regions of the Himalayas.
Many of the verses are a combination of contrasts: suffering and happiness, mindfulness and carelessness, the wise and the foolish, and so on. By comparing the consequences of each action, the system allows us to naturally choose the wisest course of action.
It is structured in such a way that the level of understanding of the Buddha’s teachings deepens step by step starting from chapter 1, so that by reading in order from 1, you can walk step by step through the Path of Dhamma.
In Translation
The translations on this site are based on the Pali original : “Tipiṭaka (The Pāli Canon)” the 1958 Sixth Buddhist Council Edition.
All of these words of wisdom are general, universal, and useful to anyone who reads them, regardless of religion or denomination. We have translated them into modern and daily english from the perspective of a meditator, not a Buddhist, so that they may help you live better in your daily life.
We have created this website with the intention of simply and directly accepting the words spoken by the Buddha without any religious elements. There may be mistranslations or incorrect interpretations, but if we notice any mistakes, we will change them each time.
May you and all living beings be happy.