Theragathapali - Book of Verses of Elder Bhikkhus
The present book, Theragatha, belongs to the Pali Tipitaka, the authorized recension for Theravada. Theragatha is perhaps unique in the world spiritual literature in that it contains verses exclusively by liberated men, and is likely the earliest such compendium.The Elder Bhikkhus (thera in Pali), whose verses (gatha) are collected herein, represent a fair cross-section of the contemporary Indian society: here we find princes and paupers, Brahmaaa and Khattiya, Vessa and Sudda, high-class society and down-trodden ones, children and senior citizens, single and married, talkative ones and quiet ones, fathers and sons - all of them singing songs of joy and gratitude; and extolling the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. And the thing that unites them all? They all realized the ultimate - the cessation of lust, hate, and delusion; the liberation; the end of the cycle of becoming. The verses themselves are so powerful that they can be used as a subject of meditation to reflect on the sufferings inherent in the round of existence and generate the desire to be free. In this book, both Pali originals and English translations are provided so it's easier for those who want to learn Pali or just read the translations. A full Pali -English Glossary, detailed Endnotes, full biographical information about each Thera, and other indices will help the interested reader to learn more about the elder bhikkhus, their circumstances, and their strivings. This is a completely reworked edition, with numerous textual and grammatical changes. New content has been added and existing content has been updated. Many Pali terms have been modified and now they have been standardized across all the books I have authored.