--- product_id: 604821437 title: "The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations" price: "B/.69" currency: PAB in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/604821437-the-dhammapada-a-translation-of-the-buddhist-classic-with-annotations store_origin: PA region: Panama --- # The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations **Price:** B/.69 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations - **How much does it cost?** B/.69 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.pa](https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/604821437-the-dhammapada-a-translation-of-the-buddhist-classic-with-annotations) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Dhammapada is the most widely read Buddhist scripture in existence, enjoyed by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: the first is attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); the second goal is the achievement of spiritual liberation, freedom, absolute peace. Many of the key themes of the verses are presented in dichotomies or pairs, for example, grief and suffering versus joy; developing the mind instead of being negligent about one's mental attitude and conduct; virtuous action versus misconduct; and being truthful versus being deceitful. The purpose of these contrasts is, very simply, to describe the difference between what leads to desirable outcomes and what does not. For centuries, this text has been studied in its original Pali, the canonical language of Buddhism in Southeast Asia. This fresh new translation from Insight Mediation teacher and Pail translator Gil Fronsdal is both highly readable and scholarly authoritative. With extensive explanatory notes, this edition combines a rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original text with the translator's personal knowledge of the Buddhist path. It is the first truly accurate and highly readable translation of this text to be published in English. Review: A BEAUTIFUL READ - 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. Review: A classic of world religion and philosophy translated by an expert with a gift for language. - The Dhammapada, which literally means "foot," "tool," "saying," or "path" (Pali: pada) of "experience" (Pali: dhamma), is a small collection of sayings about the Middle Way, the Path of Awakening which leads to Nirvana and which is embodied by the Buddha, and also about its opposite, the path of unskillful living which leads to a hellish life and which is embodied by the devilish figure of Mara. Each of us must choose which of these two paths to follow. We cannot avoid choosing: even if we do not choose, we will become subject to forces outside ourselves (media, advertisement, family, friends, enemies, lovers), and so will have chosen the path of unskillful living by default. Only by consciously choosing the Path of Awakening, and by training our minds so that everything we do is free of unhealthy desire, aversion, and delusion, can we be truly enlightened and happy. The Dhammapada gives voice to the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism: that suffering exists, that there is a cause to suffering, that suffering has an end, and that there is a means to this end, namely the Noble Eightfold Path. But the Dhammapada focuses mostly on the Noble Eightfold Path, and specifically on the choices we face, at many junctures in our lives, between two starkly contrasting possibilities. It is a message of hope that if we choose wisely, and if we choose now rather than later, we shall find relief for both our own suffering and the suffering of others. Thus the Dhammapada is similar to other great works of life philosophy, such as Epictetus' Enchiridion. Both focus on the fact that we must choose between two radically different kinds of lives. Both advocate a life of virtue and spiritual practice in order to make progress in life. Both regard training oneself to be mindfully aware of everything one does, and mindfully present at all times, as means for acquiring and exercising virtue, enlightenment and happiness. Gil Fronsdal, the translator of this perennial classic, holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford, where he studied the early Bodhisattva ideal in India as the research topic for his dissertation. He is also an ordained Soto Zen priest. And he is a Vipassana student of Jack Kornfield. He has lived as a monastic in Japan and Southeast Asia. He is the main teacher at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) in Redwood City, California. The website for IMC has all of Gil's dharma talks, plus those of many guest speakers, as well as some written transcriptions, available for free download at [...]. He is a gifted and compassionate speaker with some serious insight into the psychology of Buddhism. This translation, rendered from the Pali version of the Dhammapada, is quite beautiful, and is excellent for memorizing special verses (e.g. the first line, "All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, Made by mind..."). Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Buddhism, life philosophy, or insight meditation. My only criticism is that perhaps Gil should also have offered his own commentary in addition to the helpful annotations he gives at the end of the book. He is such an insightful speaker on the Dharma that it is a shame to waste any opportunity to have him share his insight with others! I have since learned that Gil has a previous book, The Issue at Hand, in which each chapter begins with a passage from Gil's Dhammapada translation, and which does comprise a commentary of sorts, on select passages. This book is a free download from the [...]. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #55,721 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #81 in Comparative Religion (Books) #120 in Religious Poetry (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 796 Reviews | ## Images ![The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FWmWpis2L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A BEAUTIFUL READ *by A***R on October 26, 2025* 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A classic of world religion and philosophy translated by an expert with a gift for language. *by T***S on December 6, 2005* The Dhammapada, which literally means "foot," "tool," "saying," or "path" (Pali: pada) of "experience" (Pali: dhamma), is a small collection of sayings about the Middle Way, the Path of Awakening which leads to Nirvana and which is embodied by the Buddha, and also about its opposite, the path of unskillful living which leads to a hellish life and which is embodied by the devilish figure of Mara. Each of us must choose which of these two paths to follow. We cannot avoid choosing: even if we do not choose, we will become subject to forces outside ourselves (media, advertisement, family, friends, enemies, lovers), and so will have chosen the path of unskillful living by default. Only by consciously choosing the Path of Awakening, and by training our minds so that everything we do is free of unhealthy desire, aversion, and delusion, can we be truly enlightened and happy. The Dhammapada gives voice to the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism: that suffering exists, that there is a cause to suffering, that suffering has an end, and that there is a means to this end, namely the Noble Eightfold Path. But the Dhammapada focuses mostly on the Noble Eightfold Path, and specifically on the choices we face, at many junctures in our lives, between two starkly contrasting possibilities. It is a message of hope that if we choose wisely, and if we choose now rather than later, we shall find relief for both our own suffering and the suffering of others. Thus the Dhammapada is similar to other great works of life philosophy, such as Epictetus' Enchiridion. Both focus on the fact that we must choose between two radically different kinds of lives. Both advocate a life of virtue and spiritual practice in order to make progress in life. Both regard training oneself to be mindfully aware of everything one does, and mindfully present at all times, as means for acquiring and exercising virtue, enlightenment and happiness. Gil Fronsdal, the translator of this perennial classic, holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford, where he studied the early Bodhisattva ideal in India as the research topic for his dissertation. He is also an ordained Soto Zen priest. And he is a Vipassana student of Jack Kornfield. He has lived as a monastic in Japan and Southeast Asia. He is the main teacher at the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) in Redwood City, California. The website for IMC has all of Gil's dharma talks, plus those of many guest speakers, as well as some written transcriptions, available for free download at [...]. He is a gifted and compassionate speaker with some serious insight into the psychology of Buddhism. This translation, rendered from the Pali version of the Dhammapada, is quite beautiful, and is excellent for memorizing special verses (e.g. the first line, "All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind, Made by mind..."). Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Buddhism, life philosophy, or insight meditation. My only criticism is that perhaps Gil should also have offered his own commentary in addition to the helpful annotations he gives at the end of the book. He is such an insightful speaker on the Dharma that it is a shame to waste any opportunity to have him share his insight with others! I have since learned that Gil has a previous book, The Issue at Hand, in which each chapter begins with a passage from Gil's Dhammapada translation, and which does comprise a commentary of sorts, on select passages. This book is a free download from the [...]. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clean and Crisp *by M***N on January 30, 2011* 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. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Dhammapada: A Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations - Life of the Buddha (Clay Sanskrit Library, 10) - Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (Penguin Classics) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/604821437-the-dhammapada-a-translation-of-the-buddhist-classic-with-annotations](https://www.desertcart.com.pa/products/604821437-the-dhammapada-a-translation-of-the-buddhist-classic-with-annotations) --- *Product available on Desertcart Panama* *Store origin: PA* *Last updated: 2026-08-16*