Everyday Buddha: A Contemporary Rendering of the Buddhist Classic, The Dhammapada [Paperback]

Many or most of the translation of the Dhammapada are difficult to follow and understand. This translation can be understood by the non-Buddhist. It is very well written and having read many versions I would highly recommend this for your personal library.

Living Now Magazine - June 2006 by Margot Maurice

This book is a contemporary rendering of the Buddhist classic, The Dhammapada and the foreword by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. These quintessential sayings of the Buddha offer a rich tapestry of spiritual teachings and reflections on the spiritual path. However, more than just a collection of Buddhist sayings, The Dhammapada's message is timeless and crosses all cultural boundaries.

The introduction is erudite and not only explains this classic book but also explains all about The Dhammapada which is one of the thirty one books which comprise the Tipitaka, the original Pali texts which contain the quintessence of the Buddhist teachings.

It explains that the original Pali version was not spoken by the Buddha in its present form. Three months after the Buddha's passing his most devout disciples assembled at the First Convocation to rehearse and record the poetic utterances of the Buddha. These teachings were subsequently arranged and recorded and later became the treatise, named The Dhammapada.

The profundity of each verse is evident and one can experience calmness simply by reading the verses quietly and then meditating. The author, Karma Yonten Senge aka Lawrence R. Ellyard is a Dharma practitioner of the Karma Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is an avid follower of Buddha Dharma and currently lives in Australia. This is his fourth book.

In the foreword the Dalai Lama says, "At my time of life, I have accumulated enough experience to be completely confident that the teachings of the Buddha are both relevant and useful to humanity. If you put them into practice, it is certain that not only you but others', too will benefit..." A delightful reading experience.

Nova Magazine - April 2006 by Jeremy Ball

"Everyday Buddha is a modern rendition of the Budda's classic, the Dhammapada. Attempting to interpret the 423 short verses in a more meaningful way for the English speaking world. It is a rather bold project to seek to tweak the words of the great Wise One so that they infiltrate our Western minds. This task lawrence Ellyard pulls off extremely well. Being a Buddhaphile with more time than this review permits, I would like to compare verses with more literal translations to seek even subtler meanings and come ever closer to the essential truth. However, on first glances this book is excellent.

Whether you already have a copy of the Dhammapada or not, I recommend you get this. If you are new to Buddhism this is a great place to start. The whole feel of the book is lovely, the layout of the verses is clear and the simple illustrations are very beautiful, catching a feel for the original work of the Buddha, Tibetan Buddhism and their expression in the West. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's foreword is particularly beautiful and is accompanied by a partucularly sweet picture of this great teacher, which is worth the purchase price alone. Lawrence's introduction is clear and simple and sets the context for what follows without getting bogged down in information... I congradulate all involved in this project and have put the book on my recommended list. " - Jeremy Ball, April 2006.

The Art of Healing Magazine - October 2006

"I think this is a very important and special book as it's attempt to translate the infamous Buddhist text The Dhammapada enables this age-old wisdom to be easily accessed by 'ordinary' people. The Dhammapada is one of the thirty-one books which comprise the Tipitaka, the original Pali texts which contain sayings of the Buddha (563-483 BC) and which offer a rich tapestry of spiritual teachings and reflections of the spiritual path. Everyday Buddha provides the reader with a constant source of inspiration, reflection and companionship."

Scoop Magazine - December 2006 Summer Issue

"Local writer Lawrence Ellyard has also released his fourth book. Everyday Buddha includes a foreword by the Dalai Lama, and is a modern translation of the classic Buddhist text The Dhammapada. Full of words of wisdom to shake off the stresses of the toughest of days, it's definitely worth a look."

Published by O-Books Publishing.

This is one of the most lucid, easy-to-read translations of the Dhammapada I've yet encountered. The author draws upon several translations and brings the essentials of the Buddha's teaching into modern language. It's an excellent basis for understanding the essence of the Dharma.