গৌতম বুদ্ধের নাম আমরা জানলেও তাঁর শিক্ষা সম্বন্ধে আমাদের অনেকেরই ধারনা নেই। অথচ, বুদ্ধের শিক্ষা মহান। বুদ্ধের উপদেশ এমন মানবিক আর গভীর যে মনেই হয় না তিনি আজ থেকে ২,৫০০ বছর আগে বেঁচে ছিলেন। "ধর্মপদ" হল বুদ্ধ নানা সময়ে শিষ্যদের যে সব উপদেশ দিয়েছেন -তারই সংকলন। এটি পাঠ করলে সহজেই বোঝা যায়- বুদ্ধ কেন সারাবিশ্বে জনপ্রিয়। কী ভীষন জীবনবাদী ভূমিকায় বুদ্ধ তাঁর গভীর প্রজ্ঞায় ছুঁয়ে গেছেন জীবনের নানাবিধ বিষয় -
ইংরেজিই রইল-বাংলা অনুবাদে মূলসূরটি ভেস্তে যাওয়ার আশঙ্কায়।

Dhammapada

2. Wakefulness

Wakefulness is the way to life.
The fool sleeps
As if he were already dead,
But the master is awake
And he lives forever.
He watches.
He is clear.
How happy he is!
For he sees that wakefulness is life.
How happy he is,
Following the path of the awakened.
With great perseverance
He meditates, seeking
Freedom and happiness.
So awake, reflect, watch.
Work with care and attention.
Live in the way
And the light will grow in you.
By watching and working
The master makes for himself an island
Which the flood cannot overwhelm.
The fool is careless.
But the master guards his watching.
It is his most precious treasure.
He never gives in to desire.
He meditates.
And in the strength of his resolve
He discovers true happiness.
He overcomes desire -
And from the tower of his wisdom
He looks down with dispassion
Upon the sorrowing crowd.
From the mountain top
He looks down at those
Who live close to the ground.
Mindful among the mindless,
Awake while others dream,
Swift as the race horse
He outstrips the field.
By watching
Indra became king of the gods.
How wonderful it is to watch.
How foolish to sleep.
The beggar who guards his mind
And fears the waywardness of his thoughts
Burns through every bond
With the fire of his vigilance.
The beggar who guards his mind
And fears his own confusion
Cannot fall.
He has found his way to peace.