The Dhammapada (Illustrated Edition). Gautama Buddha

      The Dhammapada

       by Gautama Buddha

      Illustrated by Keira Elyse Myers

      ©2014 Illustrated Books

      Cover Image © Can Stock Photo Inc. / sergwsq

      Interior Images © Keira Elyse Myers

      All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only.

      Illustrated Books

      PO Box 632

      Floyd VA 24091-0632

      ISBN 13: 978-1-63384-305-9

      First Edition

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Table of Contents

       Chapter I: The Twin Verses

       Chapter II: On Earnestness

       Chapter III: Thought

       Chapter IV: Flowers

       Chapter V: The Fool

       Chapter VI: The Wise Man (Pandita)

       Chapter VII: The Venerable (Arhat)

       Chapter VIII: The Thousands

       Chapter IX: Evil

       Chapter X: Punishment

       Chapter XI: Old Age

       Chapter XII: Self

       Chapter XIII: The World

       Chapter XIV: The Buddha (The Awakened)

       Chapter XV: Happiness

       Chapter XVI: Pleasure

       Chapter XVII: Anger

       Chapter XVIII: Impurity

       Chapter XIX: The Just

       Chapter XX: The Way

       Chapter XXI: Miscellaneous

       Chapter XXII: The Downward Course

       Chapter XXIII: The Elephant

       Chapter XXIV: Thirst

       Chapter XXV: The Bhikshu (Mendicant)

       Chapter XXVI: The Bahmana (Arhat)

      Chapter I: The Twin Verses

      1. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.

      2. All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

      3. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,”in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease.

      4. “He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,”in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred will cease.

      5. For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.

      6. The world does not know that we must all come to an end here;but those who know it, their quarrels cease at once.

      7. He who lives looking for pleasures only, his senses uncontrolled, immoderate in his food, idle, and weak, Mara (the tempter) will certainly overthrow him, as the wind throws down a weak tree.

      8. He who lives without looking for pleasures, his senses well controlled, moderate in his food, faithful and strong, him Mara will certainly not overthrow, any more than the wind throws down a rocky mountain.

      9. He who wishes to put on the yellow dress without having cleansed himself from sin, who disregards temperance and truth, is unworthy of the yellow dress.

      10. But he who has cleansed himself from sin, is well grounded in all virtues, and regards also temperance and truth, he is indeed worthy of the yellow dress.

      11. They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires.

      12. They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.

      13. As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.

      14. As rain does not break through a well-thatched house, passion will not break through a well-reflecting mind.

      15. The evil-doer mourns in this world, and he mourns in the next; he mourns in both. He mourns and suffers when he sees the evil of his own work.

      16. The virtuous man delights in this world, and he delights in the next; he delights in both. He delights and rejoices, when he sees the purity of his own work.

      17. The evil-doer suffers in this world, and he suffers in the next; he suffers in both. He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path.

      18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has done; he is still more happy when going on the good path.

      19. The thoughtless man, even if he can recite a large portion (of the law), but is not a doer of it, has no share in the priesthood, but is like a cowherd counting the cows of others.

      20. The follower of the law, even if he can recite only a small portion (of the law), but, having forsaken passion and hatred and foolishness, possesses true knowledge and serenity of mind, he, caring for nothing in this world or that to come, has indeed a share in the priesthood.

      Chapter II: On Earnestness

      21. Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvana), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already.

      22. Those who are advanced in earnestness, having understood this clearly, delight in earnestness, and rejoice in the knowledge of the Ariyas (the elect).

      23. These wise people, meditative, steady, always possessed of strong powers, attain to Nirvana, the highest happiness.

      24. If an earnest person has roused himself, if he is not forgetful, if his deeds are pure, if he acts with consideration, if he restrains himself, and lives according to law,then his glory will increase.

      25. By rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, the wise man may make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.

      26. Fools follow after vanity, men of evil wisdom. The wise man keeps earnestness as his best jewel.

      27. Follow not after vanity, nor after the enjoyment of love and lust! He who is earnest and meditative, obtains ample joy.