The Dhammapada is a Pali version of one of the most popular text of the Buddhist canon. The Dhammapada, or "sayings of the Buddha", is a collection of 423 verses that tell about the ideals and teachings of the Buddha. When taken together, these verses provide a structured form of teaching within the Buddhist religion. These verses are a kind of guiding voice to the path of true enlightenment.
The Dhammapada is a religious work that is meant to provide a certain set of religious and ethical values, as well as a certain manner of perception of life and the problems that life brings along with the solutions. Although the verses may be looked at as trying to create good or bad people, the verses are actually trying to get people to …show more content…

Because the bhikkhu leads a life without desire and hate, he becomes an example for society; showing what kusala is and what a person should strive to be. In return, it is up to society to make donations and offerings to keep the bhikkhu content. The qualities and attainments of the bhikkhu can be found in many of the verses in the Dhammapada. However, one verse that is particularly interesting is verse 371. "Meditate, O Bhikkhu, and be not heedless. Let not your mind whirl in the strand of sensuality. Do not swallow a swallow a metal ball, being heedless, while burning; do not lament, ‘this is woe'" (V. 371). The first stanza talks about how the bhikkhu should not be careless. He should not let his mind take pleasures in the senses. This is the reason he should restrain all of his senses. The second stanza refers to the first stanza by saying that if the bhikkhu allows his mind to loiter among sensual pleasures then it will be like having iron balls forced down his throat in hell. At first it may be difficult to point out the qualities of the bhikkhu in this verse, but once a person ties this verse into all the other verses, it makes sense. The qualities that are found in this verse are self-restraint and self-control. These are found in the first stanza, when the Buddha tells of how the bhikkhu should be careful and not get distracted by worldly goods and desires. A person may ask the question of why the Buddha decided to