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

One measure of how good a translation is whether it can be read and understood without the footnotes. Disregarding the scholarly introduction at the front and the listing of annotations at the back, I dived right into the meat of the poetry and was immediately entranced. This translation is crisp and clear and there is a feeling for the rhythm and flow of language that must capture some of the beauty of the original. Once I had a feeling for the work, I turned with real interest to the author's introductions to read his reasons and reservations about his word choices. The information in the Afterword and Notes is fascinating but I keep returning to the text itself. One can read this simply for the poetry and also as a set of proverbs that express the thoughts and culture of the Buddha's time, if not the Buddha himself. I found myself comparing it to the Biblical book of Proverbs or to The Song of Solomon. Wisdom pithily expressed and contained in short phrases, easy to carry around with one all day. One can also read this as an inspiration for daily meditation, both to put one in the proper frame and to provide a focus.

I studied a few verses of Dhammapada as a child and now reading them again after 40+ years I see what powerful impact they had in shaping my view and direction of life. This book is an excellent translation with good introduction and notes. Anyone new and exploring the world of religion or Buddhism, must start with this. My only suggestion for future editions would be to use the actual Pali words in parentheses of chapter headings and some key words used in the verses. This will encourage the reader to learn and research the nuances of actual words in Pali, the language Buddha spoke and used for oral teachings. For example the chapter 2 heading 'vigilance' is translated as 'mindfulness' or 'heedfulness' in some other translations. The first word can evoke the image or emotion of resistance, reaction or even agression, yet 'appamada' requires one to be 'heedful' and clearly aware of ill will, hatred or agression in one's mind, body and speech. I actually got my first copy a year ago with CDs in them which I love to play often in my car. Ordered two other copies recently as gifts. Surprised to see they don't come with CDs.

Almost finished these ancient precepts of tried and true “practices” of wisdom. Simply common sense that if practiced and absorbed can and will relieve much of our blind ignorance that causes us so much suffering. Like the Bible as well as many religions and philosophical readings it contains some form of perception of what happens after death because of our behavior here on earth. But if you’re convinced that death is final, the rest of the reading can be food for a life well/lived and Im convinced that these practices if absorbed and applied will grant an individual deep peace mentally, spiritually, and wholesomely. A BEAUTIFUL READ.

I'm a curious person and I find that I cannot in good conscience believe believe in most religious teachings. If you boil it down this book is a short tome of good advice. A lot of times when you read spiritual guides like this you think 'oh well that's common sense duh' and that may be true for most of us. However, I think we forget things often; the biblical 'do unto others' is actually workable, and the Dhammapada is full of useful information that you already know, but probably need to be reminded. Sometimes we do bad things to get ahead in life, we forget these bad things that we do pile up and come back to punish us later. This is a good read and even if you are not Buddhist or religious its nice to be reminded of some things. This was written a long long long time before the bible, check it out even if you are just curious about it :)

The first two pages of the preface to Gil Fronsdal's translation say it all: Fronsdal lays out the challenges a translator of an ancient text faces. He talks about the Dhammapada's history in English, about how "a translation mirrors the viewpoint of the translator" (pp. xi-xii)-something Easwaran never did. Most pointedly, he notes that "Hindu concepts appear in English translations done in India" (p. xii)-or by a Hindu, I might add. (Hint: think Easwaran.) He goes on to say (p. xii) "In this translation, I have tried to put aside my own interpretations and preferences, insofar as possible, in favor of accuracy." I believe he has done exactly this. Fronsdal's introduction (the preface discusses the translation issues) is not so far ranging as Easwaran's, and certainly not as lengthy, but I found it more insightful and refreshingly accurate. (Readers of my May 15, 2011 review of Easwaran's Dhammapada will understand my relief.) For example, I thought he hit the nail on the head with this pointed remark (p. xx): "The Dhammapada originated in a time, culture, and spiritual tradition very different from what is familiar to most Western readers today. We might be alerted to this difference if we compare the beginning of the Dhammapada with the opening lines of the Bible, which emphasize God's role as Creator and, by extension, our reliance on God's power. In contrast, the first two verses of the Dhammapada emphasize the power of the human mind in shaping our lives, and the importance and effectiveness of a person's own actions and choices... Ethical and mental purity [he goes on to say]...cannot be achieved through the intervention of others: `By oneself alone is one purified' (verse 165)." How different this is from Easwaran's constant-and fatuous-comparisons to Jesus and, even, Albert Einstein. The remainder of Fronsdal's introduction looks at its contrasting emotional moods-"energy and peace"-its themes, and the effects reading it have had on him. Fronsdal again demonstrates his penetration of basic Buddhist teachings when he writes on page xxix "[I]t is not the world that is negated in the Dhammapada, but rather attachment to the world (as in verse 171)." In the margin of my copy I scribbled YES! In other words, Fronsdal gets it-which is not so surprising when you consider the man has trained in both the Soto Zen and Theravadan traditions, has a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford, and is a teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In other words, he has every qualification needed to interpret the Buddha's teaching, qualifications Easwaran seemed to have but in fact was sorely lacking. Anyway, on to the text proper. Despite my above praise, Fronsdal does make some interpretations I thought odd, though this is not to say I didn't understand his reasoning. For example, the title of the Dhammapada's first chapter, usually rendered as "Twin Verses" or "Paired Verses," Fronsdal names "Dichotomies." Fortunately, he explains this and other such choices-which he (much to his credit) acknowledges as controversial-in detailed endnotes signified by asterisks. (This was another problem I had with Easwaran's text-I could not tell which verses his endnotes pertained to unless I went to the back of the book.) This is much appreciated; one important characteristic of any good translator is candor and clarity as to what sort of interpretive choices s/he makes and why. Fronsdal maintains high standards in this regard; he explains his choices in detail in the endnotes, and having done so the reader can then appreciate that while some of his word choices are unorthodox, they are not without merit or insight. I realize not every reader will be interested in such linguistic and terminological details, but they need to be discussed somewhere if the translator is to maintain legitimacy. As for the reading experience of Fronsdal's Dhammapada: it has the spare, poetic feel I am familiar with from other translations of Pali Buddhist texts. Also, as previously noted, he does seem to fulfill the aspiration he stated in the preface-that of producing a relatively literal translation, one reflecting its original time and place as opposed to the layers of (mis)interpretation later commentators and cultures have often imposed on the text. As a result, Fronsdal's translation feels definitively like a Buddhist text, one that should be instructive to any newcomers to the Buddha's Dhamma. I hope they will leave it wanting more.

The translation is beautiful despite the decay due to the complexity of Pali

How can I not be satisfied? I know what's in book.

I am new to Buddhism and I found this to be very easy to read and I enjoyed the messages presented in it. I think if you are starting to take your practice seriously, this is an excellent book to have in your library. I know I will reference it as I learn more and more about the practice.

The Dhammapada is one of the most widely read Buddhist texts in the West and is probably one of the most frequently translated. It is often considered, along with works like the Baghavad Gita and the Tao Te Ching to be a classic of world religious literature and as such, of interest to many who would not consider themselves Buddhist. This version, by Gil Fronsdal, who has trained within both the Soto Zen and the insight meditation tradition of Theravada Buddhism for many years and has a Ph.D. in Buddhist studies from Stanford, is my translation of choice. The highly respected translator of Buddhist texts Carl Bielefeldt, of Stanford University, (who is thus qualified to comment on the quality of this translation) has said "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." and Bhante Gunaratana, of the Bhavana Society has said "I have read many Dhammapada translations in several languages, but never have I come across such a crisp, precise, and lucid translation as this." This particular translation is also available in audio book form, which is most welcome The Dhammapada: Teachings of the Buddha - Book and Audio-CD Set and as a Kindle edition The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations which for some reason, at the time of writing, is not available in the formats box above. It also won't come up if you search under 'Gil Fronsdal' in the Kindle Store. Highly recommended both for those interested in Buddhism and those interested in world religious literature. For those who are interested, I also recommend another fine version translated by Eknath Easwaran The Dhammapada (Classics of Indian Spirituality) .

Très belle et émouvante traduction. Pour peu qu'on soit anglophone et pratiquant assidu de la voie bouddhiste, on ne peut que s'y référer avec confiance, car ce livre est un guide spirituel inépuisable.