The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations (Hardcover)

by Gil Fronsdal (Translator), Jack Kornfield (Foreword), Gil Fronsdal (Author)
Key Phrases: sensual craving

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The Dhammapada, possibly the most popular and best-known of all Buddhist texts, sums up "in the simplest language the core teachings of the Buddha," as Jack Kornfield writes in the foreword. Translator Fronsdal, a Kornfield protégé who has a doctorate in Buddhist studies from Stanford and has practiced Buddhism for three decades, offers a rendition that is faithful to the original Pali text, but not slavishly so. For example, right in the opening verses he translates dhamma as "experience" when it is often rendered as "teaching" or "truth," and samsara as "wandering" when it usually connotes the cycle of suffering. He also employs gender-neutral language throughout. Fronsdal provides a brief but illuminating introduction in which he describes the history of the Dhammapada and highlights two basic themes: how to obtain happiness in this and future lives, and how to achieve liberation from suffering. He discusses how some verses seem to be specifically addressed to the text's monastic audience, and suggests ways that lay Buddhists might apply those verses to themselves.
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Review
"At last a translation of the Dhammapada that combines academic precision in the translation of Pali terms, literary sensitivity to phrasing and meter, and a heartfelt commitment to Buddhist practice. Gil Fronsdal's version of this classic text will set a new standard for scholars and practitioners alike."—Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs and Living with the Devil "The language is clear, precise, and inspiring, the phrasing spare and elegant, and the depth of these wisdom teachings apparent on every page. Gil's wonderful work brings these timeless passages of the Buddha right into our hearts. Highly recommended."—Joseph Goldstein, author of One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism "The wish-fulfilling gem of clarity reveals itself; ancient teachings resonate with today's awareness. What a blessing!"—Edward Espe Brown, Zen Priest, author of The Tassajara Bread Book and editor of Not Always So "A fine new translation of an ancient classic. Fronsdal's balance of fidelity to the text and sensitivity to its spirit is perfect. A book to be treasured."—Carl Bielefeldt, Stanford University

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (August 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590302117
• ISBN-13: 978-1590302118
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #254,594 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic of world religion and philosophy translated by an expert with a gift for language., December 6, 2005

By	P. Hollander - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Dhammapada, which literally means "foot," "tool," "saying," or "path" (Pali: pada) of "experience" (Pali: dhamma), is a small collection of sayings about the Middle Way, the Path of Awakening which leads to Nirvana and which is embodied by the Buddha, and also about its opposite, the path of unskillful living which leads to a hellish life and which is embodied by the devilish figure of Mara.

Each of us must choose which of these two paths to follow. We cannot avoid choosing: even if we do not choose, we will become subject to forces outside ourselves (media, advertisement, family, friends, enemies, lovers), and so will have chosen the path of unskillful living by default. Only by consciously choosing the Path of Awakening, and by training our minds so that everything we do is free of unhealthy desire, aversion, and delusion, can we be truly enlightened and happy.

The Dhammapada gives voice to the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism: that suffering exists, that there is a cause to suffering, that suffering has an end, and that there is a means to this end, namely the Noble Eightfold Path. But the Dhammapada focuses mostly on the Noble Eightfold Path, and specifically on the choices we face, at many junctures in our lives, between two starkly contrasting possibilities. It is a message of hope that if we choose wisely, and if we choose now rather than later, we shall find relief for both our own suffering and the suffering of others.

Thus the Dhammapada is similar to other great works of life philosophy, such as Epictetus' Enchiridion. Both focus on the fact that we must choose between two radically different kinds of lives. Both advocate a life of virtue and spiritual practice in order to make progress in life. Both regard training oneself to be mindfully aware of everything one does, and mindfully present at all times, as means for acquiring and exercising virtue, enlightenment and happiness.

Gil Fronsdal, the translator of this perennial classic, holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford, where he studied the early Bodhisattva ideal in India as the research topic for his dissertation. He is also an ordained Soto Zen priest. And he is a Vipassana student of Jack Kornfield. He has lived as a monastic in Japan and Southeast Asia. He is the main teacher at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) in Redwood City, California. The website for IMC has all of Gil's dharma talks, plus those of many guest speakers, as well as some written transcriptions, available for free download at [...]. He is a gifted and compassionate speaker with some serious insight into the psychology of Buddhism.

This translation, rendered from the Pali version of the Dhammapada, is quite beautiful, and is excellent for memorizing special verses (e.g. the first line, "All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, Made by mind..."). Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Buddhism, life philosophy, or insight meditation. My only criticism is that perhaps Gil should also have offered his own commentary in addition to the helpful annotations he gives at the end of the book. He is such an insightful speaker on the Dharma that it is a shame to waste any opportunity to have him share his insight with others!

I have since learned that Gil has a previous book, The Issue at Hand, in which each chapter begins with a passage from Gil's Dhammapada translation, and which does comprise a commentary of sorts, on select passages. This book is a free download from the [...].

112 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything that we are arises from our thoughts, we are what we think, March 22, 2006

By	L. Power "nlp trainer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I am not a Buddhist, yet I recognise good wisdom when I see it. This gives me a new perspective on my actual beliefs, and enhances them.

This work was recommended to me by a self improvement guru, and the Dhammapada proves that real wisdom is timeless. Dating back 2,500 years, it compares with other classic works I have read such as Tao Te Ching, Bhagavad Gita, and, of course the Bible, and more recent works such as The Prophet.

When I was reading quotations on wisdom, I was very impressed by the wisdom of Buddha. There are some common themes running through these works.

Naturally, I don't agree with everything, the passionless existence, but I understand where he is coming from. I prefer the idea of attachment to the Christian concept of sin.

Some quotes:

The way is in the heart, not in the sky.

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Hate does not conquer hate. Only love can conquer hate, that is a universal law.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

A wise man, recognising, recognising the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

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48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most excellent copies of Dhammapada, December 1, 2005

By	Andrew Levin "-A.L." (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

Upon my first decision to place myself in the dhamma, I bought a copy of Dhammapada from the local Barnes & Noble. Not being satisfied with that, I exchanged it for a 'pocket' version by Shambhala. That was some time ago.

"The Dhammapada" is a new translation, not like other copies that draw on some of the more recent translations. In other words, it's a fresh copy translated from Pali.

If you have heard that many of the Buddha's disciples and lay followers attained enlightenment upon hearing a single 4-line verse, and doubted that it could happen again in this day and age, you have not read this copy of Dhammapada. Reading merely two verses from this excellent translation at the local coffee shop with a friend, on the dangers of negligence and the virtues of guarding the sense doors, upon leaving I witnessed profound changes in the form of a path unfolding, in being established in a simple yet deep and profound discipline, and experienced my perspective on the world change in a very unusual way. Needless to say I have tossed my older version of Dhammapada in the trash. If you are looking for a copy of the Dhammapada to study verse by verse, in the most exact terms the Buddha used, or just read a little at a time to apply to daily life, this copy with its most precise translations and annotations is probably the best you can do. The words are simple yet inspiring and profound. Highly recommended.