The Main Themes Of Buddhism In The Dhammapada

Imagining a life of purity, thoughtfulness, and reflection may prove impossible for some individuals to accomplish; however, the way of the Buddha emphasizes the importance of an unmitigated mind, free from material desire and unnecessary passions. When one attempts to define Buddhism, he/she may cover the concepts of meditation and clearing the mind, yet actually practicing Buddhism yields a certain lifestyle, one that requires constant thought and effort. The Dhammapada, a sacred religious text, explains certain main themes of Buddhism such as Anitya, or the temporary nature of all beings, the necessary ability to master one’s mind, and the significance of overcoming outside desires and connects these overarching motifs to different cultural

Early on in this religious scripture, the statement “you too shall pass away” engrains itself in the reader’s mind (Chapter 1). A reminder that humans do eventually perish similar to everything else in the world exemplifies the Buddhist belief of Anitya. Also referring to the temporary nature of human beings, the Buddha states that “the body is a fragile jar” and “that the body is merely the foam of a wave”: both comparisons prove forever fleeting and always temporary (Chapter 3, Chapter 4). Humans tend to forget that even they have a definite timespan to live; therefore, this propensity leads the Dhammapada to remind them that individuals must recognize the brevity of their existence and thus urges them to experience a pure and joyous life. Later referring to the human body as “a

The Dhammapada speaks a universal truth, that “desire is unquenchable,” and explains that “he who wishes to awake, consumes his desires joyfully” (Chapter 14). These statements prove similar to the four noble truths, that to live is to suffer, and desire causes suffering; therefore, one cannot avoid temptation because it is ubiquitous. When explaining the outcomes of “craving pleasure or nursing pain,” the Buddha articulates that “there is only sorrow” (Chapter 16). Desire clearly only causes difficulty when attempting to achieve Nirvana, and the Dhammapada seeks to convey the importance of clearing the mind and purifying one’s thoughts. Continuing to contrast lust and happiness, the Buddha explains that “there is pleasure and there is bliss, forgo the first to possess the second” (Chapter 21). One cannot have genuine jubilation while yearnings and allurements cloud the mind. Expressed throughout Buddhist teachings and a main religious text, the action of overpowering desire and lewd thoughts proves a crucial step in eventually reaching