title: The Dhammapada: Verses on the Way (Modern Library)
author: Buddha
description: "Organized in a way that is meant to encourage a fresh encounter with the Dhammapada," according to its introduction, this guide jumps right in with Walliss careful translation of the 2,400-year-old Buddhist text. Wallis, an assistant professor of religion at the University of Georgia, wants readers to pore over the classic itself before using the notes in the back of the book on the second, third or even fourth reading. ("Learning is slow; careful reading is tedious; understanding is elusive," he cautions.) After this initial getting-to-know-you phase, readers can progress to the books second half, which has an extended guide to the text as a whole and a detailed commentary on selected verses (which are marked by an asterisk in the translation). Wallis discusses the oral nature of the original work, which would have been memorized and recited by monks, nuns and laypersons. He argues that rather than being seen as a random collection of verses, the Dhammapada has an overriding structure and a coherent theme, emphasizing the need for spiritual diligence and effort. According to the text, readers should seek the meaning of these verses as a skilled gardener would gather flowers. Walliss dexterous translation and commentary should help them in their task, though at times his writing is a bit technical.<br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  ## The Buddha Smiles
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Humor in the Pali Canon
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
  
  
  
  
  
  #### (Geoffrey DeGraff)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Copyright 2015 ṭhānissaro bhikkhu
  
  
  
  
  
  This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0
  Unported. To see a copy of this license visit
  <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/>. “Commercial” shall mean any
  sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities.
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Questions about this book may be addressed to
  
  
  
  
  
  Metta Forest Monastery
  
  
  
  
  
  Valley Center, CA 92082-1409
  
  
  
  
  
  U.S.A.
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Additional resources
  
  
  
  
  
  More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available
  to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at
  [dhammatalks.org](http://www.dhammatalks.org/).
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Printed copy
  
  
  
  
  
  A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one,
  write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Va