The Dhammapada is one of the most popular and influential of Buddhist scriptures. The universality of its message, the depth of its teaching, and the refined simplicity of its language have earned it an honoured place in world literature. It can be taken as a straightforward and practical summary of the essential teachings of the Buddha, but much more than that, the Dhammapada is a poetic representation of a sublime spiritual ideal. This new translation seeks to inspire and encourage the qualities of kindness, gentleness and self-control, of simplicity, contentment and serenity, commended by the Buddha himself. These qualities lead, in time, to the enjoyment of that vision of the truth that can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart.