The Dhammapada
Max Müller
A collection of the Buddha's sayings in verse — among the best-known Buddhist scriptures.
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Religion5th century BCE~520 million adherents
Buddhism
- Founder
- Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
- Origin
- Nepal / Northern India
The path taught by the Buddha to end suffering through ethical living, meditation, and insight into the nature of reality.
Overview
Buddhism
Buddhism arose in the 5th century BCE from the awakening of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, born in the foothills of Nepal. Rejecting both indulgence and severe asceticism, he taught a Middle Way to liberation from suffering.
Its teaching begins with the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Key scriptures include the Dhammapada and the early Buddhist Suttas preserved in the Pali Canon. Central concepts are dukkha (suffering), anicca (impermanence), anatta (non-self), and nirvana (release).
From India, Buddhism spread across Asia into the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions.
Sacred Scriptures
Read in full on John Shaqi, in our reader.
Critics, Defenders & Scholars
Defenders
14th Dalai Lama
Spiritual Leader · b. 1935 · Tibetan
Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global advocate for compassion and dialogue.
The Art of Happiness
Scholars
Nagarjuna
Philosopher (Madhyamaka) · c. 150–250 CE · Indian
Founder of the Madhyamaka school, whose doctrine of emptiness (sunyata) shaped Mahayana Buddhism.
Mulamadhyamakakarika
Sacred & Scholarly Books
Well-known works on Buddhism — readable in full, right here in the Library.
1921 · Read on site →
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1966 · Read on site →
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1914 · Read on site →
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1870 · Read on site →