Dhammapadni Upmao - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Dhammapada ni Upmao" by Bechardas Doshi:

Book Title: Dhammapada ni Upmao (Similes of the Dhammapada) Author: Bechardas Doshi Publisher: Z_Sangiti_004849.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/249413/1

This text, "Dhammapada ni Upmao," by Bechardas Doshi, is an analysis and explanation of the various similes and metaphors used by the Buddha in the Dhammapada to illustrate his teachings. The author emphasizes that similes are a powerful tool for making abstract philosophical or spiritual concepts relatable and understandable to a wide audience, from children to adults. These comparisons draw from commonly observed realities, making the core message more accessible.

The author begins by defining "Upma" (simile) as the act of showing similarity between two different entities. He highlights that poets have long used similes in their poetry, and similarly, spiritual thinkers have employed them to elucidate profound philosophical ideas. The text posits that simile is the foundational and most maternal of all literary devices (alankaras). Examples from ancient Indian texts, like the Vedas comparing unlearned Brahmins to frogs, and Kalidasa's comparison of Shiva and Parvati to word and meaning in the Raghuvamsha, are presented to demonstrate the long-standing tradition of using similes for clarity.

The core of the book is dedicated to dissecting the similes found within the Dhammapada, chapter by chapter.

Key Similes and Their Explanations:

Yamaka Vagga (Chapter on Pairs):
- Good and Bad Intentions: Good intentions are likened to a shadow that always accompanies a person, meaning happiness never leaves those with good intentions. Conversely, ill intentions lead to suffering, like the wheel of a cart following an ox.
- Weak Trees and Wind: A weak tree uprooted by the wind represents individuals who indulge in excessive eating and drinking without moderation, leading to their own destruction through their desires.
- Rocky Mountains and Wind: In contrast, a strong, rocky mountain unaffected by the wind symbolizes a person who maintains moderation in food and drink, is diligent, and therefore remains unmoved by desires. The emphasis on "rocky" highlights the solidity and strength of such an individual.
- Well-Roofed and Leaky Houses: A well-roofed house protects from rain, just as a well-controlled mind, trained through good thoughts, cannot be pierced by desires. A leaky house, however, is vulnerable to rain, mirroring how an uncontrolled mind, lacking in good thoughts and discipline, is easily overcome by its impulses.
- Roaring Clouds: Speaking extensively about righteous conduct without practicing it is compared to clouds that roar but bring no rain. This is further illustrated by the analogy of a cowherd counting cows but not owning them; such talk does not lead to spiritual benefit.
Appamada Vagga (Chapter on Diligence):
- Climbing a Mountain: Overcoming uncontrolled desires and negligence through diligence is like climbing a mountain, from where one can view the ignorant below with compassion or equanimity.
- Fast Horses: Diligent and wise individuals are compared to swift horses that leave weaker ones behind in a race, symbolizing their progress past the negligent.
- Fire: A diligent and disciplined person is like a fire that burns through all obstacles in its path, continuously advancing in their spiritual practice.
Chitta Vagga (Chapter on Mind):
- Arrow Maker: A wise person is like an arrow maker who straightens a bent arrow; they train their wavering mind through practice to become firm and upright.
- Fish Out of Water: The mind, accustomed to worldly pleasures and desires, is like a fish taken out of water, thrashing and restless. The text highlights the difficulty in controlling such a mind, even for the determined.
- Clay Pot vs. City: The body is compared to a fragile clay pot, while the mind is likened to a great city. The emphasis is on protecting the mind (city) even at the cost of the body (pot), as the mind's purity is more valuable.
- Body as Refuse: The body is described as worthless refuse or wood that will return to the earth, emphasizing the greater importance of purifying the mind.
- Mind as Enemy/Benefactor: The evil mind is compared to an enemy, while a simple and pure mind is considered more beneficial than parents, relatives, or loved ones.
Puppha Vagga (Chapter on Flowers):
- Body as Foam/Mirage: The body's impermanence is illustrated by comparing it to foam on water or a mirage.
- Gathering Flowers: Individuals engrossed in sensual pleasures in youth are like those gathering flowers, unaware of the approaching death that snatches them away, similar to how a flood sweeps away a sleeping village.
- Bee and Flower: A person earning a livelihood is advised to be like a bee that extracts nectar from a flower without harming it significantly. While complete non-harm is impossible in social interactions, minimizing harm while earning is crucial. The text also advocates for balanced physical labor in society to prevent exploitation.
- Fragrant and Odorless Flowers: Meaningless speech is compared to a beautiful but scentless flower, while meaningful speech is like a fragrant flower.
- Sandalwood, Tagara, Jasmine: The scent of these substances spreads only in certain directions, whereas the fragrance of virtuous individuals spreads everywhere. The scent of good conduct is deemed superior to all other fragrances.
- Lotus in Mud: The disciples of Buddha, illuminated by their steady wisdom, emerge from the "mud" of this dark world, much like a beautiful, fragrant lotus grows in a pile of refuse.
Bala Vagga (Chapter on Fools):
- Long Night for the Awake: The ignorant perceive the world as long and arduous, similar to how the awake find the night long or the tired find a distance great.
- Ladle in Lentil Soup: An ignorant person who worships the wise but doesn't abandon their desires is like a ladle that tastes lentil soup without truly enjoying its flavor. Conversely, one who abandons desires and follows the wise can savor their virtues.
- Honey and Poison: Actions that seem sweet like honey when performed become bitter like poison when they bear fruit.
- Fresh Milk and Curdled Milk: Freshly committed sins do not immediately cause pain, but like fire hidden under ashes, they burn when stepped upon, indicating the lasting pain of sin.
Pandita Vagga (Chapter on the Wise):
- Hidden Treasure: A person who points out our faults is like a friend who reveals a hidden treasure of wealth.
- Watering Fields, Straightening Arrows, Shaping Wood: The wise who control their minds and senses are compared to farmers irrigating fields, arrow makers straightening arrows, and carpenters shaping wood, indicating their skill in directing their inner energies.
- Unshakable Mountain: A wise person unaffected by praise or criticism is like a solid mountain that does not tremble in the wind.
- Deep and Clear Lake: The calm and serene mind of a wise person is likened to a deep, clear, and undisturbed lake.
Arhanta Vagga (Chapter on the Arhats):
- Swans and Muddy Ponds: Arhats (enlightened beings) are uninterested in worldly affairs, just as swans do not relish muddy ponds.
- Birds in the Sky: Those who have renounced possessions and experienced Nirvana are difficult to comprehend, like the invisible footprints of birds in the sky.
- Horses Tamed by a Charioteer: The senses, when controlled by spiritual discipline, are like well-trained horses guided by a charioteer; they do not stray into the path of sin.
- Earth, Indra's Pillar, Lake: Arhats are compared to the earth (patiently enduring all), Indra's pillar (unwavering), and a clear lake (serene and pure).
Sahassa Vagga (Chapter on Thousands):
- One Meaningful Word: One meaningful word that brings peace is better than thousands of meaningless words or verses recited carelessly.
- Conquering the Self: Conquering one's own self is superior to conquering thousands in battle; such a person is the true brave warrior.
- Brief Meeting with the Wise: A moment's association with the wise is more beneficial than performing costly sacrifices or rituals for years.
- One Day of Righteous Living: Living even a single day with virtue, good conduct, and effort is better than living a hundred years with vice, evil thoughts, and lack of effort.
Papa Vagga (Chapter on Sin):
- Filling a Lake Drop by Drop: Committing small sins repeatedly is like filling a lake drop by drop; eventually, it forms a large reservoir of bitterness. Therefore, one should avoid even minor sins.
- Accumulating Small Merits: Even small acts of merit, when accumulated, form a great lake of merit, leading to significant benefit. One should not be discouraged from performing small good deeds.
- Merchant on a Safe Path: A traveler with wealth but no companion abandons a dangerous road for a safer one. Similarly, one should abandon the path of sin in this fearful world and travel the path of merit.
- Uninjured Hand: A person with an uninjured hand can hold poison without harm. Likewise, one with a pure mind, free from evil tendencies, can engage in any righteous activity without accumulating sin.
Danda Vagga (Chapter on Punishment/Force):
- Fear of Punishment and Death: All beings fear punishment and death. Therefore, one should treat all beings with the same consideration they wish for themselves.
- Broken Brass Vessel: Harsh words are like a broken brass vessel that makes noise; one should avoid speaking harshly.
- Cowherd and Cows: Old age and death bring a person to the end of their lifespan, just as a cowherd guides his cows to pasture.
Jara Vagga (Chapter on Old Age):
- Body as a Bird's Nest of Disease: The body is described as a nest for diseases.
- Dry Gourds: Dried gourds wither and fall. Similarly, the body's bones weaken and the flesh loosens with age.
- City of Bones: The body is a city of bones, covered with layers of flesh and blood, where old age, death, and pride hold sway.
- Ox Gaining Flesh, Not Wisdom: The deluded and desire-driven human being grows like an ox, gaining only flesh but no true wisdom.
- Breaking the House-Builder: Buddha describes his search for the "house-builder" (craving) and how he has destroyed its ribs and demolished its roof, freeing his mind from desire. Thus, craving can no longer construct a "house" for him in repeated births.
- Old Cranes in a Dry Pond: Those who did not practice restraint in youth and did not earn wealth lament in old age, like old cranes looking forlornly in a fishless pond, unable to find sustenance.
- Decayed Bow: Such old people, full of regret, are like a decayed bow, useless and merely suffering.
Atta Vagga (Chapter on Self):
- Vine Destroying a Tree: A large vine spreading over a Saal tree and destroying it from the roots is likened to excessive bad conduct, leading to a person's downfall when their evil deeds accumulate.
- Bamboo Fruit Destroying Bamboo: The fruit of bamboo causes its own destruction. Similarly, those who slander the Dhamma bring about their own ruin.
Loka Vagga (Chapter on the World):
- Bubble and Mirage: The worldly affairs are transient like a bubble and a mirage. Those who perceive this are not seen by the king of death.
- King's Chariot: The world is colorful and varied like a king's chariot, not uniform.
- Moon Emerging from Clouds: One who was negligent in ignorance but becomes vigilant and virtuous shines like the moon emerging from clouds, illuminating the world.
- Blind and Seeing People: The world is full of blind people; those who can "see" (are wise) are few. These wise individuals are free like birds released from a snare.
- Swans in the Sky: The wise, who have conqueredMara and craving, roam freely in the world like swans flying in the sky.

In conclusion, the text systematically breaks down and explains the numerous similes within the Dhammapada, covering thirteen of its twenty-six chapters. The author's aim is to demonstrate how these vivid comparisons make the Buddha's teachings on ethics, mental discipline, and spiritual liberation accessible and impactful.