The Dhammapada: Sayings of the Buddha

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha in verse form and one of the most widely read and best known Buddhist scriptures. Each saying was made on a different occasion in response to a unique situation that had arisen in the life of the Buddha and his monastic community. It is a good introductory primer on Buddhist thought. The sayings are split into 26 chapters as follows: The Twin-Verses On Earnestness Thought Flowers The Fool The Wise Man The Venerable The Thousands Evil Punishment Old Age Self The World The Buddha - The Awakened Happiness Pleasure Anger Impurity The Just The Way Miscellaneous The Downward Course The Elephant Thirst The Mendicant The Brahmana