Sacred Atlas
DhammapadaChapter 15 · fol. XV
Buddhism

Chapter15Happiness

◆ About this chapter

Chapter 15 of the Dhammapada, titled Happiness, serves as a pivotal ethical pivot within the eight-and-thirty chapters of the text, shifting focus from the mechanics of karma to the cultivation of inner peace. This section systematically explores the nature of contentment, defining true well-being not through material accumulation but through mental equanimity and the cessation of hatred. Situated between discourses on moral conduct and the ultimate goal of liberation, these verses offer a pragmatic framework for lay practitioners seeking to navigate social conflict with compassion and find stability in the present moment.

Translation:
About this translation
King James Version (1611)
1611 · Public domain

The most influential English translation ever made. Sometimes archaic, but the standard PD English text.

Translators commissioned by King James I of England, 1604–1611

Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us! Among men who hate us let us dwell free from hatred! 204Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships; Nirvana the highest happiness.
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