Stories inspired from the Dhammapada - An Introduction

The most amazing aspect of the verses of the Dhammapada is that they are very simple and easy to read. And yet, each time I read and re-read them, I find that I am unable to understand them in a simple and easy manner. Every day of our lives has different circumstances that change our understanding of the verses. I have therefore begun an attempt to write short stories to help me tryto remember the manner of understanding of the verses of the Dhammapada. I fear that if I would not do so, I would be denied the opportunity of walking ahead on the path of dhamma that has been given to us, for us to hold on to, and learn and understand.

I have also included a list of further reading to help everyone to begin this attempt to understand. One such reference mentions that each verse of the Dhammapada can “release potential mind energy that you never knew existed within you.” This is so amazingly said, and it is in fact, very simplistically, true. These basic tenets of the teachings are indeed a vast ocean of knowledge in the universe, and one has to, some day, make a beginning.

The Buddha frequently made use of easily understood simile-led verses in his discourses during the forty-five years of his teaching. The Dhammapada is the most valuable collection of his teachings later compiled in 423 verses in twenty-six chapters and has its own treasured position in the Pitaka. Each verse has been explained along with a short story by the Buddha, and sometimes it refers to the earlier births of the Most Enlightened One and on other occasions, refers to contemporary human society of those times.

The Pitaka, or the Tipitaka is the collection of the teachings of the Buddha in the Pali language and is divided into the “three baskets”, the Vinaya Pitaka, the Suttanta Pitaka and the Abhidhamma Pitaka. The Dhammapada is the second book of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Suttanta Pitaka and enshrines the very basic, most easily understandable tenets of Buddha’s teaching about the questions, riddles and parables of humanity, human life and attachments. The characters, well defined, within the stories accompanying the verses are on some occasions, to be found in both the Dhammapada and the Jatakamala. The collection of 540 poems, comprising the Jatakamala, is also found dispersed in the Khuddaka Nikaya and other books of the Tipitaka.

Each verse of the Dhammapada is a gem by itself. They are merely two phrases in four lines, usually witty, and yet a vast horizon of understanding. Each time that a verse is read, one begins to dive deeper and deeper in the magic and marvel of the context of the human condition that is depicted. The Buddha has emphasized the relevance of knowing one’s mind within all responses, action and speech and helps us understand that there are unstoppable consequences to our reactions, deeds and the spoken word. Each verse extends a truth (dhamma) by the Buddha, as a simple understanding of the human mind and the cause and effect of action and reaction.

The earliest translation of the Dhammapada from Pali into English by Max Muller in 1870 is available. Similarly, there are various translations in other languages that are equally proficient and excellent in their attempt at understanding the Dhammapada. I have referred to some of the most respected and authorized versions of the Dhammapada and the translations of the verses in helping me with this work.

I have merely attempted to present the stories that I have been inspired to write, after an attempt to try to understand the teachings from the verses of the Dhammapada. It is entirely possible that I am totally wrong in my understanding. I would be most happy to know that I am wrong, for it would only require of me to read the verses again and again and again. Nothing would be more fulfilling. These are merely stories, and there is no attempt here to convey any actual quotation or parable from the Most Enlightened One, except for the Dhammapada verses.

I have retained the presence of the Most Enlightened One in the stories that I have adapted from the versions thus written by more learned and studied authors of the Tipitaka and the Dhammapada. This has been attempted with the best of efforts to be faithful to the manner in which the earlier story has been presented by these expert authors. Except for such stories, most other stories in this series are totally original. The mention and linkage to the Buddha within these newly written tales are enabled through the references that I have found. There could of course, be more references. There is so much more to learn. There is so little time. Start. And, start again.

Dhammapada - an introduction

Dhammapada (Pali) or Dharmapada (Sanskrit) is the most well known collection of the sayings of Gautama Buddha in the form of suttas or verses. This collection is often regarded as being more popularly known than even the entire Tipitaka of the Master. It is said that each sutta was spoken of by the Most Englightened One in reference to a particular parable and teaching, sometimes in response to a question by a disciple or a lay person.

It is ascribed that shortly after the parinibbana of the great Master, his disciples and the senior arahats met at Rajagriha to understand the loss and to ensure that there would be no attempt by anyone to corrupt the Teachings. By way of repeated recitation, the different groups of arahats were able to recollect the exact words of the Master and the related parables. These were brought together in clusters of discourses for recitation, and assembled especially as the suttas of short verses – the Dhammapada.

The most ancient compilation is the Dhammapada Atthakatha, with commentary by the great scholar, Buddhaghosa. Comprising terms referring to dhamma and being numbered, pada, the verses explain the ‘eternal truth’ through their root.

The unique value of the verses of the Dhammapada is in its very construction and delivery. Complex concepts and hypotheses are presented in very precise verses. The numbers of suttas is very impressive and yet awe-inspiring in their clarity. It must have been very difficult to pick up on the Master’s Teachings to his bhikkhus and bhikkunis by lay persons. The need to link an appropriate story to the verses must have been recognized and appreciated by everyone. Some of these verses also occur in other parts of the Tipitaka but the stories are only to be found in the Dhammapada of the Khuddaka Nikaya within the Sutta Pitaka.

There are several versions of the Dhammapada, other than the Pali canon. These include the – (a) Gãndhãri Dhammapada – in Gãndhãri written in the Kharosthi script, (b) Patna Dharmapada – in a variant Sanskrit script, (c) Udãnavarga – in 3 different Sanskrit versions and a Tibetan translation, (d) Mahãvastu – text in Lokottaravada, similar to the Pali Sahassa Vagga and Bhikkhu Vagga, and (e) Fajiy jing – being four Chinese texts, one of them a translation of the Pali canon.

We will follow the Pali Dhammapada for our purposes of being introduced to this great text. 423 verses of the Dhammapada are placed in 26 chapters. These include the – (1) Yammakavagga or Yammaka vaggo – ‘The twin-verses’, (2) Apamãdavagga – ‘On earnestness’, (3) Cittavagga – ‘Thought’, (4) Pupphavagga – ‘Flowers’, (5) Balavagga – ‘The fool’, (6) Paṇditavagga – ‘The wise man’, (7) Arahantavagga  - ‘The venerable’, (8) Sahassavagga – ‘The thousands’, (9) Pãpavagga – ‘The evil’, (10) Daṇḍavagga – ‘Punishment’, (11) Jarãvagga – ‘Old Age’, (12) Attavagga – ‘Self’, (13) Lokavagga – ‘The World’, (14) Buddhavagga – ‘The Buddha – The Awakened’, (15) Sukhavagga – ‘Happiness’, (16) Piyavagga – ‘Pleasure’, (17) Kodhavagga – ‘Anger’, (18) Malavagga – ‘Impurity’, (19) Dhammaṭṭavagga – ‘The Just’, (20) Maggavagga – ‘The Way’, (21) Pakiṇṇakavagga – Miscellaneous, (22) Nirayavagga – ‘The Downward Course’, (23) Nãgavagga – ‘The Elephant’, (24) Taṇhãvagga – ‘Thirst’, (25) Bhikkhu Vagga – ‘The Mendicant’, (26) Brãhmaṇavagga – The Brãhmana.

The unique style of the Dhammapada is the coupling of the verses with stories and parables. The verses are very difficult to understand in the first or second or third readings. The stories or parables help the seeker understand the essence of each verse. Some stories are presented with 2-3 verses. Most are supported by one single verse. Thus, the 423 verse are presented by 305 stories. Some of these stories have recounting of the past experiences of the Master, while most are about incidents that are supposed to have taken place during His lifetimes.

Essentially, the Dhammapada is meant to be a guide to the lay person, and instill values of dhamma. One cannot perhaps understand the context of the stories of those times, but one should certainly have faith in the intent and the purpose of the parable. Some of the examples may not seem to be immediately relevant, but then, as a student, one has to be humble.

The clear, precise and philosophical verses were presented in the Master’s Teachings during the 45 years of His travels in the valleys below the Himalayas and along the Ganges. Most examples are in relation to the people and communities of those times and in those places. The Most Enlightened One repeatedly emphasises that one must achieve one’s own internal conquests, in defeating the evils of hatred, ignorance and passion. He teaches that is very hard to attain freedom from craving and presents an absolute truth (dhamma) along with advice in each parable coupled with a verse.

It is in the 21^st verse, Appamado amatapadam, meaning – ‘Mindfulness is the way to Nibbana, the Deathless’ – that provides a valuable insight into achieving tranquility. Possibly the last Teaching of the Master before his parinibbana, He taught that one should be mindful and always endeavour diligently.