Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha (Shambhala Pocket Classics) Paperback – November 9, 1993

First, please look at my pictures I've included: you can see the nice small size of the book in relation to a quarter, and in relation to my keyboard. That should give a good context for you. Then, please notice the font and the font size; I think that it is a perfect font size for this size of book. Contrary to what one reviewer wrote, it is an easy size to read, so don't worry about that.Next, I want to talk about the physical quality of the book itself. The book has a solid construction with a strong binding. The cover is rigid yet flexible, and it retains its shape well after being opened. Finally, the pages are pretty thick and NOT see-through, which is great. They don't have a problem with moisture from your hands, for example, and they don't stick together, which makes turning them easy. They also have a nice red outline around each of them, which is very aesthetically pleasing.Ok, now to the contents of the book. Well, it is the Dhammapada, so it is wonderful of course. Byrom's rendering is truly beautiful and highly readable; I read the whole book in about two hours the day I got it! There have been some who complain that it is not an accurate translation, however. All I can say is that the same message is there; the same images are there. One get's the same teaching from this as from other more literal translations--this one is meant to be more poetic on purpose of course, so it must be credited for that. If one wishes to get the more formal translation, then they are easy enough to find elsewhere. The way I see it, this is a great way to get a unique reading of the same great message, in a wonderful little book that is portable and well made. So, why not go with both? And if you have to really only go with one, I think you would be fine with this one for your own meditations, thoughts, pondering, etc.. Maybe not for formal research where you need to cite the verse numbers (as this one doesn't have the verse numbers), or where a more literal translation is required for quoting the text, but outside of that small group of people who want to use the Dhammapada for research, this rendering by Byrom is a joy to read.Overall, I highly recommend this little book--a little book with a big message. Just remember what it's written for and you won't be disappointed! "Better than a thousand hollow verses is one verse that brings peace."

THE MASTERYielding like the earthJoyous and clear like the lakeStill as the stone at the doorHe is free from life and death.So much beauty, clarity and inspiration in this tiny book! Thomas Byrom's translation is good, and the Shambhala Pocket Classics edition is so cute it makes me happy just looking at it. Having said that, there is no commentary or explanation of the verses save for a very brief intro, making this volume most suitable to those already familiar with the Buddha's teaching (especially those practicing meditation!) Otherwise the sayings might seem terse and obscure. It's one thing to read words on a page, another to KNOW them by direct experience. I find some verses strike an immediate chord--like the one quoted above--where others fly right over my head, thus ensuring many future readings. I like to take this lil treasure on solitary hiking and backbacking trips so that I can ponder the Buddha's words in the quietude of nature, then sit to meditate cross-legged at the root of a tree like so many sages of old. "For he who is awake/Has shown you the way of peace/Give yourself to the journey." I highly recommend the Dhammapada for anyone following this ancient path.

I didn’t expect it this small but its cute and easy to carry

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An absolutely delightful collection of sayings and teachings attributed to The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. This is one of my favorite books, I keep one at work for when I get stressed, and I keep one at home to collect my thoughts and direct my mind, and I keep a stack around to give out to anybody who even remotely wants to think about or talk about Buddhism.I love this book, this book is extremely important to how I view mental health and a positive and appropriate world view. With my thoughts I create the world, and this book has profoundly altered my thoughts.4-star review is due to it's inaccuracies. If in any way you want to understand the exact teachings of The Buddha, or understand the exact historical words of The Buddha, or even get into the exact concepts of actual Buddhism, then this book is sadly not a great source. This translation is famously full of errors, as the author chose pleasant and flowery language in place of more accurate and difficult concepts.This is an excellent book that captures the vibe and feelings of Buddhism from a Western perspective, more than it captures its actual Eastern meanings. Read and enjoy with slight caution. Otherwise, it's a fantastic book chalked full of wisdom that applies to every second of life.I can't recommend this book enough to anybody who wants to think about Buddhism. Just be ready later if you ever want to really study scriptures, that this book is a loose Western translation.Edit: The "Better" translations are unbearable bores, and the differences in translations are only minor and yet still quite significant. This book remains an excellent entry point to learning about Buddhist thought. I think the late Alan Watts would call this book a perfect example of Western Buddhism.

This is the perfect pocket size companion for any person wanting to simply live the sayings of the historical Buddha. This book is perfectly sized to fit in a shirt pocket or small bag if you wish. Print is small but not uncomfortably so. If this one was ever lost, I would buy it again.

This was originally written in times of political and social turmoil, to provide a philosophical wisdom in a chaotic world. It has provided me so much comfort and insight in our similar troubled times, today. Easy to read and understand. I do not know much about Buddhism; and I did not have to in order to appreciate this book. It helped me manage my bursts of anger, my desire for revenge, and a lot of other mental anguish: to master my own mind and to recognize how I was hurting myself.