The Dhammapada: The Path of Perfection (Penguin Classics) (urspr publ 1936; utgåvan 1973)

An excellent translation. ( )

This is the best translation I've found. ( )

Good clear poetic translation. Buddhism has always been interesting to me , as sometimes it approaches the level of philosophy so much as a religion - at least it does to my understanding. Good thoughts for living well. ( )

A collection of 423 Buddhist maxims from roughly 2300 years ago meant to help those on the “Path to Perfection”, or Nirvana. Dhamma is the Pali word for Dharma, the moral and spiritual laws of the Universe, and Pada are footsteps, thus the “Path to Perfection”.

On one level the messages are a simple and practical guide to being a better person, one who loves and does not hate, and one who helps and does not hurt. On a higher level the messages are a guide to a higher plane where the ego is lost and one is enlightened. While the book gets a little repetitive, it’s more enlightened from my perspective than many other religions and philosophies from the time, or to this day.

Quotes:
On desire:
[369] Empty the boat of your life, O man: when empty it will swiftly sail. When empty of passions and harmful desires you are bound for the land of Nirvana.

On evil, and perhaps karma, or perhaps one’s conscience:
[127] Neither in the sky, nor deep in the ocean, nor in a mountain-cave, nor anywhere, can a man be free from the evil he has done.

On hate and love:
[5] For hate is not conquered by hate: hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal.

Similarly:
[223] Overcome anger by peacefulness: overcome evil by good. Overcome the mean by generosity; and the man who lies by truth.

On knowing oneself:
[252] It is easy to see the faults of others, but difficult to see one’s own faults. One shows the faults of others like chaff winnowed in the wind, but one conceals one’s own faults as a cunning gambler conceals his dice.

On peace and communion:
[49] As the bee takes the essence of the flower and flies away without destroying its beauty and perfume, so let the sage wander in this life.

On solitude, these are actually a bit sad:
[61] If on the great journey of life a man cannot find one who is better or at least as good as himself, let him joyfully travel alone: a fool cannot help him on his journey.

[88] Let the wise man leave his home life and go into a life of freedom. In solitude that few enjoy, let him find his joy supreme: free from possessions, free from desires, and free from whatever may darken his mind.

On tranquility:
[81] Even as a great rock is not shaken by the wind, the wise man is not shaken by praise or blame.

And this one referring to the wise man; I like the imagery:
[95] He is calm like the earth that endures; he is steady like a column that is firm; he is pure like a lake that is clear…

On virtue:
[163] It is easy to do what is wrong, to do what is bad for oneself; but very difficult to do what is right, to do what is good for oneself. ( )