八直最上道 四諦最上法 離欲最上行 明眼最上人 此道無餘 見諦滅苦 我自知道 亦以道示衆 若人欲知道 當求明師說 恭敬而受行 得出縛網難
bā zhí zuì shàng dào sì dì zuì shàng fǎ lí yù zuì shàng xíng míng yǎn zuì shàng rén cǐ dào wú yú jiàn dì miè kǔ wǒ zì zhī dào yì yǐ dào shì zhòng ruò rén yù zhī dào dāng qiú míng shī shuō gōng jìng ér shòu xíng dé chū fù wǎng nán
Key Message
The Eightfold Path is the supreme road and the Four Noble Truths are the supreme teaching — by following this path, seeing truth, and releasing desire, all suffering is extinguished.
▸The Maggavagga (Chapter on the Path) is the Dhammapada's most explicit statement of Buddhist soteriology — the architecture of liberation.
The Maggavagga (Chapter on the Path) is the Dhammapada's most explicit statement of Buddhist soteriology — the architecture of liberation. The Eightfold Path is the highest road; the Four Noble Truths are the highest teaching; the relinquishing of desire is the highest practice; the person of clear vision is the highest among human beings. This path, without remainder, leads to the seeing of truth and the extinguishing of suffering. The Buddha speaks in the first person: 'I myself know this path; I have shown this path to the many.' Finally, to one who wishes to know the path: seek out a teacher of clear vision, receive the teaching with reverence, and practice it — thus one escapes the net of bondage, which is otherwise so difficult to escape.