MÓDULO FORMATIVO 4

All these characteristics are featured in the Dhammapada, one of the thirty-one books that comprise the Tipiṭaka, the three „baskets“ which contain the quintessence of the Buddha's teachings.

The Dhammapada is not a book to be read superficially like a novel and shelved aside. It should be read and re- read so that it may serve as a constant companion for inspiration, solace, and edification in times of need.

The Dhammapada was not preached by the Buddha in the present form. Three months after the passing away of the Buddha, the Arahants, who assembled at the first convocation to rehearse the teachings of the Buddha, collected some of the poetic utterances of the Buddha, which he expounded on different occasions, arranged and classified the treatise in its present form, naming it the Dhammapada.

The Pāli term „Dhamma,“ in Sanskrit „Dharma,“ is one of the most difficult words to be translated into English as it has many meanings. It has to be understood according to the context. Were it is used in the sense of saying or Teachings of the Buddha. „Pada“ implies „sections,“ „portions,“ „parts,“ or „way.“ Dhammapada may be rendered „sections or portions of the Dhamma.“ „The way of the Dhamma.“ It is somewhat difficult to offer a graceful English equivalent according to its literal meaning. The way of Truth „The way of righteousness,“ „The path of virtue,“ are renderings that have been suggested by various scholars.

The Dhammapada consists of 423 melodious Pāli verses uttered by the Buddha on about 300 occasions to suit the temperaments of the listeners in the course of His preaching tours during His ministry of forty-five years. Circumstances that led to these noble utterances are presented in the form of long or short stories, together with traditional interpretations of the Pāli verses and technical terms, in the voluminous commentary written by ven. Buddhaghosa. This valuable commentary has been ably translated by E. W. Burlighame for the Harvard Oriental Series. It may be remarked that most of these verses are better understood when read with the context.

DHAMMAPADA

From ancient times to the present, the Dhammapada has been regarded as the most concise expression of the Buddha's teching found in the Pāli canon and the chief spiritual evidence of early Buddhism.

In the countries following Theravāda Buddhism, such as Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand, the influence of the

Dhammapada is continual. It is an ever-fruitful source of themes for sermons and discussions, a guidebook for resolving the

countless problems of everyday life, a primer for the instruction of novices in the monasteries. Even the experienced, contemplative, withdrawn to forest hermitage or mountainside cave for a life of meditation, can be expected to count a copy of the book among his few material possessions. Yet the admiration the Dhammapada has obtained has not been confined to avowed followers of Buddhism. Wherever it has become known its moral earnestness, realistic understanding of human life, aphoristic wisdom and stirring message of a way to freedom from suffering have won for it the devotion and veneration of those responsive to the good and the true.

The expounder of the verses that comprise the Dhammapada is the Indian sage called the Budda, an honorific title meaning ‘the Enlightened One’ or ‘the Awakened One’. The title ‘Dhammapada’ which the ancient compilers of the Buddhist scriptures attached to our anthology, means portions, aspects or sections of Dhamma. The work has been given this title because, in its twenty-six chapters, it spans the multiple aspects of the Buddha's teaching, offering a variety of standpoints from which to gain a glimpse into its heart.

The work is simply a collection of inspirational or pedagogical verses on the fundamentals of the Dhamma, to be used as a basis for personal edification and instruction. In any given chapter several successive verses may have been spoken by the Budda on a single occasion, and thus among themselves will exhibit a meaningful development or a set of variations on a theme. But by a large, the logic behind the grouping together of verses into a chapter is merely the concern with a common topic. The twenty-six chapter headings thus function as a kind of rubric for classifying the diverse poetic utterances of the Master, and the reason behind the inclusion of any given verse in a particular chapter is its mention of the subject indicated in the chapter’s heading.

As a great releigious classic and the chief spiritual testament of early Buddhism, the Dhammapada cannot be judged in its true value by a single reading, even if that reading is done carefully and reverentially. The reader should reflect on the meaning of each verse deeply and thoroughly, investigate its relevance to his life, and apply it as a guide to conduct. If this is done repeatedly, with patience and perseverance, it is certain that the Dhammapada will confer upon his life and new meaning and sense of purpose. Infusing him with hope and inspiration, gradually it will lead him to discover a freedom and happiness far greater than anything the world can offer.

666UDANA

The Pali canon consists of three pitakas: 1. Sutta Pitaka

2. Vinaya Pitaka 3. Abhidhamma Pitaka

Sutta Pitaka again has been divided into five sections: 1. Digha Nikaya

2. Majjhima Nikaya 3. Sajyutta Nikaya 4. Avguttara Nikaya 5. Khuddaka Nikaya

The former 4 sections are separate texts and the 5th _{one consists of 15 texts. The Buddha’s}

teaching have been introduced by the following names during the Buddha’s time: 1. Dhamma 2. Dhamma-vinaya 3. Pabcanikaya 4. Sahita 5. Navavga 6. Pavacana

Of these names, navavga refers to nine sections or style of Buddha’s teaching, it can be considered as distinctive characteristic of Buddha’s teaching.

1. Sutta 6. Itivuttaka

2. Geyya 7. Jataka

3. Veyyakarana 8. Abhutadhamma

4. Gatha 9. vedalla

5. Udana

The term udana appears even in this early classification of Buddha’s teaching. It is good evidence to support the antiquity of the Udana Pali. The term Udana is defined as UD + AN + A = Udana. Etymologically, it means ‘the air going up’. According to vedic literature, there are five kinds of life-air (prana-vayu):

1. prana

3. apana

4. udana

5. samana

In this list of prana-vayu, number 4 refer to Udana. The term Udana generally refers to the

expression connected with enjoyment. In the Buddhist context, not only the enjoyment but also insight or understanding is combine with the term, when it was used in connection with the Pali text it means eighty-two discourses of the Buddha which have the characteristic of enjoyment and insight.

The Udana is the third book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, found between the Dhammapada and Itivuttaka. It is a collection of 80 udana in 8 vaggas, each containing 10 suttas which end with a solemn utterance. Each utterance is preceded by an introduction explaining the circumstances leading to the event. The 8 vaggas are:

(1) Bodhivagga (2) Mucalindavagga (3) Nandavagga (4) Meghiyavagga (5) Sonatherassavagga (6) Jaccandhavagga (7) Culavagga (8) Pataligamiyavagga