Verses from the Dhammapada

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Scriptures
Buddha
Jun 1, 2020
Jenny Hall

The Dhammapada is one of the oldest collections of sayings of The Buddha. The collection of 423 verses appear in the Pali Canon and arise from specific stories during the teaching life of the Buddha. Each verse reflects the Buddha's response to the situation.

Jenny Hall is a Zen student of many years standing and originally a student of Daiyu Myokyo zenji.

The Zen school, unlike many schools of Buddhism, has no one particular text and will use any and all to illustrate and demonstrate the teachings of the Buddha. Jenny uses these verses to show how the Zen training goes and how Zen is firmly founded upon the teachings of The Buddha.

Verses from The Dhammapada 1

If the space in between thoughts can be opened up to, the transcendental can appear.

Verses from the Dhammapada 5

The terrible acts of Angulimala provide the backdrop for the Buddha's lesson on choosing the path we take in life.

Verses from the Dhammapada 20

A map of the way is a useful guide but should be no substitute for examining the terrain ourselves.

Verses from the Dhammapada 31

The persistence of the natural world is a good example of how awareness and attention are a natural function of the Buddha-Heart.

Verses from the Dhammapada 36

The training of the heart/mind is central to the practice of Buddhism and to the formula of The Four Noble Truths. Central to this training with the emotions.

Verses from the Dhammapada 53

Despite wanting to be better versions of ourselves we can still act impulsively. The Buddha showed that our future actions are the result of how we cultivate the heart. Jenny Hall tells a story to illustrate the point. 

Verses from the Dhammapada 58

The lotus growing in muddy water and then rising up to bloom in air has become the ideal symbol for rising above the defilements including the delusions of 'I' that bring unhappiness. However, this release arises by coming to terms with the nature of those ties that bind. 

Verses from The Dhammapada 70

Many religions hand down ‘Laws’ to be obeyed. In Buddhism however the 'Law' is ever changing, and if we are to be abide by it we must become familiar with the delusion of ‘I’.

Verses from the Dhammapada 82

The teachings of the Buddha are revealed in everyday phenomena if we are quiet enough and open enough to listen out for them.

Dhammapada Verse 87

Verses from The Dhammapada
The Buddha asks us to follow the way of light. Jenny Hall explores what the Buddha meant by this and how we can walk this way.

Verses from the Dhammapada 97

Impassioned thinking makes us hasty in our judgements and prone to 'fake news'. Truth appears in the space vacated by delusion, Jenny Hall explores this view in this latest verse from the Dhammapada.

Verses from the Dhammapada 129

Physical and mental pain is something that we all experience in life. Jenny Hall asks what, if anything, can be learned from it?

Verses from the Dhammapada 131

He who injures or kills another who longs for happiness will not find it...
'Avoiding killing' is the 1st lay precept, mindfulness helps us in this by not turning a blind eye to ourselves and others. Understanding the life of even 'negative emotions' forms part of this precept too, as we can be too eager to 'get rid' of things 'I' don't like to...

Verses from the Dhammapada 134

Emptiness was described by the Indian sage Nagajuna as the True Nature of phenomena. It's realisation forms the central insight in Mahayana Buddhism. Jenny Hall explores our fear of emptiness and sees the way as going right through this fear.

Verses from the Dhammapada 166

By attending to what arises in our own heart; the practitioner cultivates what she will become. Jenny Hall looks at how the past affects the present.

Verses from the Dhammapada 173

The Great Bodhisattava Vow to help all sentient beings starts with the empty and open heart. Jenny Hall looks at this connection in practice.

Verses from the Dhammapada 175

Space' is a word that describes a physical absence as well as an inward state. Jenny Hall explores the connection between the two to reveal the power in living simply.

Verses from the Dhammapada 190/192

Letting-go of cherished things can be fearful for 'I', but taking refuge also means gaining support. In this verse Jenny Hall discusses the strength found in taking refuge in Buddha.

Verses from the Dhammapada 247

Although renunciation is an essential element of the Buddhist path, it is not the object of ‘my’ desire that is the problem but ‘my' desire to escape whatever is being experienced in this present moment.

Verses from the Dhammapada 250

Jenny Hall explains how 'I' use thoughts about past and future to grasp and how this prevents us resting in the 'now'. In this way we find it difficult to accept this moment as 'enough'.

Verses from the Dhammapada 251

“There is no fire like hatred, no rushing like craving.”
The Buddha taught the delusion of a separate self as the cause of human dissatisfaction. Being a delusion, and thus insubstantial, this lack gives rise to craving to fill the void. Hatred is 'my' attempt to protect myself from this truth.

Verse from the Dhammapada 271

Loneliness is the 21st Century 'malaise' for the first world. Can the Buddha's teachings help us if we are facing this problem?

Verses from the Dhammapada 272

Craving for a particular future can create anxiety and distress in the present. Jenny Hall explores this connection in the light of the teachings.

Verses from The Dhammapada 285

Coming face to face with impermanence can leave us with feelings of sadness and dis-ease. If however, we can open ourselves up to these feelings, we give space for the buddha nature to reveal itself.

Verses from the Dhammapada 289

The 12th Link of the Chain of Dependent Origination is 'Death', but there is a death-in-life necessary to experience life more fully. Jenny Hall explores this theme.

Verses from The Dhammapada 290

The Buddha taught that it isn't the objects themselves that are the problem, it is our relationship to them. We endlessly crave and then become attached to what is intrinsically ephemeral. 

Verses from the Dhammapada 306

Motivation for the deception of others may arise as a consequence of an attachment to a self-image. Jenny Hall explores how this attachment can lead to inauthentic ways of living.

Verses from the Dhammapada 328

The 'wise friend' is the subject of this verse which points to the importance played by the 'sangha' or Buddhist community in providing support for practice.

Verses from the Dhammapada 341

Birth and re-birth are central features of the Wheel of Life. In this article Jenny Hall looks at this process and its implications for Zen practice.

Verses from the Dhammapada 358

Giving is the first of the Six Paramitas, however the motivation behind it is as important as the action. Jenny Hall explores this theme.

Verses from the Dhammapada 366

A key element of a Zen monk's life is frugality and the avoidance of waste. Jenny Hall looks at the importance of this in a Buddhist practice to generate compassion and carefulness.

Dhammapada Verse 375

Verses from The Dhammapada
Jenny Hall explores how 'my' expectations can skew the senses which leads to misunderstanding the nature of a situation.

Verses from the Dhammapada 378

Strife brought on by the every-changing nature of the world causes turbulence in our hearts. What did the Buddha teach about attaining equanimity, to establish peace at heart?

Verses from the Dhammapada 399

Anger is a defiling passion in Buddhism, how can this energy become an entryway into the spaciousness of the Buddhanature? Jenny Hall discusses this problem in her latest commentary.

Verses from The Dhammapada 402

When pain or suffering arises it is natural to try and avoid it. To find the way out of suffering however the only way is through it.

Verses from the Dhammapada 404

The simple life may not sound very exciting and 'I' likes stimulation to keep me interested and engaged. However, the attitude we take towards things is key in how we experience them. Jenny Hall explores this connection in this latest verse.

Verses from the Dhammapada 421

In a world that is constantly changing, as the Buddha taught, clinging attachment will lead to suffering. In this article Jenny Hall looks at how this clinging causes us to feel cut off from others.

Verses from The Dhammapada 83

Within happiness lies the seed of sorrow, pleasure being a fleeting experience. When we open ourselves up to sorrow however, the inherent joy of the heart naturally reveals itself. 

Verses from The Dhammapada 35

If we are constantly distracted by past events, or looking for the next thing to satisfy our futures, we can never really savour the present moment in all its richness. When we enter the eternal ‘now,’ true peace is found.

Verses from The Dhammapada 98

Being in a state of gratitude can be the key to a fulfilling and joyous life. Genuine gratitude however cannot be faked and is something that genuinely arises from the heart. Jenny Hall examines how we can open the heart to experience gratitude in our daily lives.

Verses from the Dhammapada 288

The Buddha taught that all things are impermanent, therefore if we rely on the people, things and circumstances that surround us, we will inevitably live in fear that these things will one day leave us. Jenny Hall examines what it means to take refuge in our own hearts.

Verses from The Dhammapada 336

When ‘I’ like something ‘I’ chase after it, when I dislike something ‘I’ tend to avoid it. It’s from this starting point that we can learn to let go of our suffering. Jenny Hall investigates.

Verses from the Dhammapada 360

Given that ’I’ (the ego) am the one who seeks to assert control over myself and ‘my’ environment, and ‘I’ (the ego) am the one who must be let go of, what did the Buddha mean when he says we must control the senses.

Verses from The Dhammapada 3

We don't need to act more compassionately. As compassion is an inherent quality of the heart by simply doing this practice compassion will arise quite naturally.

Verses from The Dhammapada 406

While violence seems to be escalating throughout the world, the Buddha’s teachings show us that anger and desire can be transformed into the warmth of the Buddha nature.

Verses from The Dhammapada 286

While doubt is seen as one of five hindrances to meditation, ‘the great ball of doubt’ is one of the three requirements for Zen training. What is this ball of doubt and how can we develop it?

Verses from The Dhammapada 217

Jenny Hall examines the passing away of Queen Elizabeth II and her long reign as the Monarch of the United Kingdom.

Dhammapada Verse 59

Verses from the Dhammapada
The pitch black of the darkness holds many secrets, some terrifying but others sublime. Jenny Hall explores what it really means to bring light to this darkness.

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CH'AN
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Further reading

A Handful of Leaves

Stories from the Tradition
The Buddha explains why he only taught a few of the many things he had seen.

Zaō Gongen

The Way of Devotion
This Japanese deity who converted to Buddhism can scare away evil thoughts and negative emotions.

The Golden Ball

Stories from the Tradition
A monk is quietly mediating in the forest when something irresistible appears right in front of him.

Dhammapada 142

Verses from the Dhammapada
“Even though richly clothed he who is calm and controlled who lives a good life and does no harm to others is a Brahmin or Bhikkhu.”