All religions of the world, be it Buddhism,
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism or
Judaism, are based on the virtues of loving kindness (Metta),
Compassion (Karuna), Blissful joy over other�s success (Muditha)
and Equanimity (Upekkha) to foster peace and harmony, in
a society, composed of various racial and other cultural
divides.
The Buddha, in the 6th century BC, called these virtues,
Brahma Vihara, meaning sublime State of Mind, to be
developed by all persons, whatever their own religious
persuasions.
The Pali Dhammapada belongs to world literature. It is
equally of great appeal and appreciation in Buddhist and
non-Buddhist countries, as it sets forth ideas of
universal appeal besides being a manual of Buddha�s
teaching. It consists of 423 verses, short and
enchanting and easy to recite and memorise. It is
arranged according to topics in to 26 Vaggas to
chapters, with the sound of silence in every word to
silence the mind that is always engrossed with
attachment (Lobha) enmity, (Dosa) and Ignorance (Moha).
The Dhammapada means religious word or saying, so stated
in the following verses in it. �Who will comprehend this
earth (Self) and this realm of Yama and this world
together with Devas? Who will investigate the well
taught Path of Virtue, even as an expert garland maker
will pick flowers� (Puppha Vagga 44). �A disciple in
training will comprehend this earth, and this realm of
Yama together with the realm of Devas? A disciple in
training will investigate the well-taught Path of
Virtue, even as an expert garland maker will pick
flowers� (Puppha Vagga 46).
The Dhammapada dispenses with all manners of sacrifices,
obligations and ascetic practices of self-mortification,
and lays stress on good moral conduct (Sila), stabilised
by concentration (Samadhi) and concretised by sound
reasoning (Panna). The Teaching of the Buddha in a
nutshell, acceptable by any person or any race, caste or
creed or religious persuasion, in any country or land,
is metamorphosised in all evil actions, bodily or
verbally. Accumulate what is good and purify one�s mind�
(Loka Vagga 183). If any person is critical of another�s
religion or its founder the religion being a matter of
conscience, near and dear to him, to which he was born,
weaned and reared, he causes an evil action and such a
person should not be a follower of Buddha, Dhamma and
Sangha. This applies to all and those pose themselves as
icons of saviours of Buddhism and Buddhist heritage, on
the dissolution of their present lives. They will
certainly be reborn in the form of poisonous reptiles or
animals, and continue till eternity never to be reborn
as human beings. This is succinctly termed by the Buddha
as a by-product of total ignorance (Avidya). �A worse
taint then this is ignorance, the greatest taint,
abandoning this taint, be taintless, �O Bhikkhus� (Mala
Vagga 243).
Creed (Lobha), ill-will (Dosa) and delusion (Moha) are
considered fires, unless they are held in check, it is
never ever possible to lead a happy and harmonious life.
The Buddha says, in order to achieve this state of
happiness and harmony, one must avoid the two extremes
of indulgence in sensual pleasures and practice, in
self-mortification. One must follow the Middle Path and
the Noble Eight Fold Path, which could be followed by
any person, while declaring faith in his own religion.
The attainment of the different stages of this Path
Dhammapada says: �Better than absolute sovereignty over
the earth, better than going to heaven, better than even
having a lordship, it is the fruit of a Stream Winner (Sotapanna)�
(Loka Vagga 176). The Buddha says the one, who could
attain sotapanna through self-exertion, Buddhas are of
little help as they can only guide and one should make
the effort the Thatagathas are only teachers. Those who
enter the Path are away from the bonds of Mara (death)�.
(Magga Vagga 276).
Dhammapada shows on peace and on violence (verses 129,
130 and 142), and stresses that enmity never ceases with
enmity but by loving kindness (verse 5). Anger should be
controlled by loving kindness. Evil by good deeds,
miserliness by generosity and falsehood by truth (verse
223). It also says that one should not speak harshly to
another as he could get it back (Verse 133). Dhammapada
also exhorts the bhikkhus to lead a spotless life and a
life without any interference in politics of a town or
village, if a bhikkhu is without Morality (sila) and
unrestrained in thought, word and deed� it says, �it is
better for him to eat a red-hot iron ball than eating
alms (dana) offered by the people� (Niraya Vagga 308).
Dhammapada further says, �A bee without harming a
flower, its colour or scent flies away, collecting only
the honey, even so should the Muni (sage) wander in the
village, without affecting the faith and generosity and
wealth of the villagers� (Puppha Vagga 49).
In another verse, �When a young man in his prime of life
living among his own people is snatched away by death,
is like a flood that washes away the whole village that
is asleep� (Magga Vagga 287). Still in another verse, �A
man who is enmeshed only in his own work, is like a
spider, who finds itself enmeshed in its self created
web� (Tanha Vagga 347).
The verse 173 (Atta Vagga) says, �it is easier to do
evil and harmful things than to do good and salutary
things. Dhammapada also says, �There are only few people
in this world, who have a correct insight, most of them
are blind (Loka Vagga 174). As regard the conduct of the
people, �To be born as a human being is indeed a rare
thing� (Buddha Vagga 182).�
�It is easy to see the faults of others, but not easy to
see one�s own� (Maka Vagga 252). �The smell of flowers
comes only with the wind, but the fame of good men comes
even against the wind �(Puppha Vagga 54).�
As the sayings of the Dhammapada are of universal
appeal, the Dhammapada has been translated and published
in numerous languages. It is a good guide book, for one
to read.
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