The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha, presented in verse form. Poetic, inspirational, and broadly accessible, this is the most widely read of all classical Buddhist texts. This classic text of teaching verses from the earliest period of Buddhism in India conveys the philosophical and practical foundations of the Buddhist tradition. The text presents two distinct goals for leading a spiritual life: attaining happiness in this life (or in future lives); and the achievement of absolute peace. For centuries, this text has been studied in its original Pali and this translation combines Gil Fronsdals personal knowledge of the Buddhist path with his rigorous attention to detail in bringing forth the original text.