The Dhammapada - Hardcover

by Gautama Buddha (Author)

A foundational collection of verses from early Buddhist tradition, presenting concise teachings on conduct, mind, and the path to liberation.

The Dhammapada is one of the most widely read texts in Buddhist literature, drawn from the Pali Canon and traditionally attributed to the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Composed as a series of short, aphoristic verses, it addresses the nature of thought, the consequences of action, and the discipline required to overcome suffering. Its structure allows for both reflective reading and sustained study, with each verse offering a distilled expression of moral and philosophical insight.

Organised thematically, the text explores subjects such as vigilance, self-mastery, wisdom, and the impermanence of worldly conditions. Its language is direct yet suggestive, emphasising clarity of perception and the cultivation of an ordered inner life. The Dhammapada has served for centuries as an introduction to Buddhist teaching as well as a companion for continued reflection, retaining its relevance across cultural and historical contexts.

Author Biography

Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Amir Khusrau, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Lalla Ded, Mahsati, Rabi'a, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mu'in and many others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies and a dozen screenplays.