The Buddha said: “Moral character is preceded by intention, ruled by intention, produced by intention. If with a pure intention one speaks or acts, then happiness will follow them like a never departing shadow” (Dhp 2 Forrest).

“Moral character is preceded by intention, ruled by intention, produced by intention. If with a corrupt intention one speaks or acts, then unhappiness will follow them like the (Wagon) Wheel follows the foot of the (animal) that pulls it” (Dhp 1 Forrest).

This is an introduction to the Dhammapada, an important Buddhist scripture found in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali canon (Tipitaka). The Dhammapada is a collection of 423 verses divided into 26 chapters. It is the most popular book in the canon and has been translated more than any other book of the early Buddhist scriptures. It is the book I recommend for those looking to learn more about Buddhism.

The Buddha said, "May all beings be happy and secure, may their hearts be wholesome.... Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, let him cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Let his thoughts of boundless love prevade the whole world" (Snp 8 Saddhatissa).

The Buddha said, “The venerables agree on the meaning but disagree on the phrasing. But the venerables should know that this is how such agreement on the meaning and disagreement on the phrasing comes to be. But the phrasing is a minor matter. Please don’t get into a fight about something so minor” (MN 103).

Did you know the Buddha taught about heaven and hell? The Buddha said, "Some enter the womb; evil-doers go to hell; the good go to heaven; those free from worldly desires attain nirvana" (Dhp 126 Radhakrishnan).

The Buddha said, “And what is right meditation? It’s when a practitioner, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome qualities, enters and remains in the first level of concentration, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, which is accompanied by directed thought and examination” (SN 45.8).

The Buddha said, “And what is right mindfulness? It’s when a practitioner meditates by observing an aspect of the body or an aspect of feelings or an aspect of the mind or an aspect of experience, being ardent, attentive, and mindful, putting away worldly longing and distress. This is called right mindfulness” (SN 45.8).

The Buddha said, “And what is right effort? It’s when a practitioner generates enthusiasm, tries, makes an effort, exerts the mind, and strives so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise…. so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up…. so that skillful qualities that have not arisen do arise…. so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fulfilled by development. This is called right effort” (SN 45.8).

The Buddha said, “Now this is the noble truth of the path that leads to the ending of suffering. It is simply this noble eightfold path, that is: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation” (SN 56.11). The Buddha said, “Practitioners, a lay follower should not engage in these five trades. What five? Trade in weapons, living creatures, meat, intoxicants, and poisons” (AN 5.177).