THE DHAMMAPADA REBORN
An American Blues TranslationBy William Altig
Length3h 7m
About this audiobook
The Dhammapada Reborn: An American Blues Translation
The Mississippi Delta meets the Ganges River. 2,500 years of Buddhist wisdom translated into the honest, visceral idiom of the American Blues.
The Dhammapada contains 423 verses spoken by the Buddha himself—teachings on the mind, karma, craving, and the path to liberation. This interpretation breaks the Dhammapada out of its glass case of academic detachment and lets it hit where it's supposed to hit: in the gut, in the bones, in the midnight hour when you're alone with your thoughts.
All 26 chapters preserved intact. Every verse reimagined through the call-and-response rhythm of the Blues tradition.
This is a meditation manual for the modern seeker—designed for daily practice, walking meditation, or recitation. Whether you're new to the Dhamma or have studied it for decades, this translation will wake you up in ways you didn't expect.
The Buddha gave us the melody. The Blues gives us the key.
Let the music play.
Audiobook details
GenrePhilosophy, Spirituality and Religion
Length3 hrs 7 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 18, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1THE DHAMMAPADA REBORN
171End of Chapter 14: The Buddha
2OPENING SALUTATION
172Chapter 15: Sukhavagga - Blues Edition
3ABOUT THE DHAMMAPADA
173Happiness: The Real Kind
4PREFACE: THE CROSSROADS OF TRUTH
174Opening Words
5HOW TO USE THIS BOOK FOR PRACTICE
175Verses 197-200: Let Us Live Happily
Show all chaptersShow less
6DAILY VERSE PRACTICE
176Verses 201-204: Peace Is Supreme
7CHAPTER CONTEMPLATION
177Verses 205-208: Taste of Dhamma, Company of the Wise
8CALL-AND-RESPONSE
178End of Chapter 15: Happiness
9WALKING MEDITATION
179Chapter 16: Piyavagga - Blues Edition
10RECITATION PRACTICE
180What Is Dear: The Root of Grief and Fear
11THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
181Opening Words
12Chapter 1: Yamakavagga - Blues Edition
182Verses 209-211: Don’t Cling
13Opening Words
183Verses 212-216: Five Roots of Grief and Fear
14Verses 1-2: Your Mind Writes the First Verse
184Verses 217-220: True Love Is Different
15Verses 3-4: Don’t Keep Singing That Sad Song
185End of Chapter 16: What Is Dear
16Verse 5: The Old, Old Law
186Chapter 17: Kodhavagga - Blues Edition
17Verse 6: We’re All Dying Here
187Anger: Hold Back the Swerving Chariot
18Verses 7-8: Weak Trees and Mountains
188Opening Words
19Verses 9-10: The Robe Don’t Make the Monk
189Verses 221-223: The Charioteer
20Verses 11-12: Fool’s Gold and Real Gold
190Verses 224-226: Truth, No Anger, Give
21Verses 13-14: Leaky Roofs and Good Roofs
191Verses 227-230: Nobody Escapes Blame
22Verses 15-16: Now and Later
192Verses 231-234: Three Gates
23Verses 17-18: Burning and Bliss
193End of Chapter 17: Anger
24Verses 19-20: Talking Ain’t Walking
194Chapter 18: Malavagga - Blues Edition
25End of Chapter 1: The Twin Verses
195Impurity: Rust Eats the Iron It Comes From
26Chapter 2: Appamādavagga - Blues Edition
196Opening Words
27Opening Words
197Verses 235-239: Withered Leaf, Make Your Island
28Verses 21-22: Wake Up or Stay Dead
198Verses 240-243: Rust Eats the Iron
29Verse 23: The Meditators Who Keep At It
199Verses 244-248: Easy Life, Hard Life
30Verse 24: The One Who Does the Work
200Verses 251-255: Four Dangers, No Footprint
31Verse 25: Build Your Island
201End of Chapter 18: Impurity
32Verses 26-27: Fools Sleep, Wise Stay Woke
202Chapter 19: Dhammaṭṭhavagga - Blues Edition
33Verse 28: The View from the Mountain
203The Just: Not by X Are You Y
34Verse 29: The Fast Horse and the Slow Horse
204Opening Words
35Verse 30: How the King of Gods Got His Throne
205Verses 256-259: Talking Much Means Nothing
36Verses 31-32: The Monk Who Can’t Fall
206Verses 260-265: Not by Grey Hair
37End of Chapter 2: Heedfulness
207Verses 266-272: True Monastics, True Seers
38Chapter 3: Cittavagga - Blues Edition
208End of Chapter 19: The Just
39Opening Words
209Chapter 20: Maggavagga - Blues Edition
40Verses 33-34: The Mind Like a Fish, Like an Arrow
210The Path: There Is No Other
41Verses 35-36: Guard What You Can’t See
211Opening Words
42Verse 37: The Mind That Roams Far
212Verses 273-276: This Is THE Path
43Verses 38-39: Unsettled and Settled
213Verses 277-279: The Three Marks
44Verse 40: The Jar and the Fortress
214Verses 280-285: Cut the Forest, Not Just the Tree
45Verse 41: The Body’s Fate
215Verses 286-289: Death Comes Like a Flood
46Verses 42-43: Your Worst Enemy, Your Best Friend
216End of Chapter 20: The Path
47End of Chapter 3: The Mind
217Chapter 21: Pakiṇṇakavagga - Blues Edition
48Chapter 4: Pupphavagga - Blues Edition
218Miscellaneous: Collected Jewels from the Road
49Flowers: What Blooms and What Fades
219Opening Words
50Opening Words
220Verse 290: Trade Up, Not Down
51Verses 44-45: Who Knows the Dhamma Like a Flower?
221Verse 291: Can’t Build Happiness on Someone Else’s Pain
52Verse 46: Body Like Foam
222Verses 292-293: What Needs Doing vs. What Doesn’t
53Verses 47-48: Gathering Flowers When Death Comes
223Verses 294-295: The Riddle of Destroying Mother and Father
54Verse 49: Be Like the Bee
224Verses 296-301: The Six Recollections—Awake Well
55Verse 50: Mind Your Own Business
225Verse 302: Hard Either Way—Choose Your Hard
56Verses 51-52: Flowers With and Without Scent
226Verse 303: The Faithful One Shines Everywhere
57Verse 53: Make Garlands from Your Life
227Verse 304: The Good Shine Like Mountains
58Verses 54-56: Virtue’s Fragrance Rises
228Verse 305: The Solitary One at the Forest’s Edge
59Verse 57: Māra Can’t Find You
229End of Chapter 21: Miscellaneous
60Verses 58-59: The Lotus in the Garbage
230Chapter 22: Nirayavagga - Blues Edition
61End of Chapter 4: Flowers
231Hell: The Underworld Awaits the Unwary
62Chapter 5: Bālavagga - Blues Edition
232Opening Words
63Fools: Your Own Worst Enemy
233Verse 306: Liars Go to Hell
64Opening Words
234Verse 307: The Robe Doesn’t Save You
65Verse 60: Long is the Night
235Verse 308: Better to Eat a Glowing Iron Ball
66Verse 61: Walk Alone If You Must
236Verses 309-310: The Four Results of Adultery
67Verse 62: Nothing Is Yours
237Verses 311-313: The Ascetic Life Wrongly Grasped
68Verse 63: The Wise Fool
238Verse 314: Better Undone is a Wrong-Doing
69Verses 64-65: The Spoon and the Tongue
239Verse 315: Guard Yourself Like a Border Town
70Verse 66: Your Own Enemy
240Verses 316-318: Wrong Views Lead to Bad Destiny
71Verses 67-68: Regret and Relief
241Verse 319: Right Views Lead to Good Destiny
72Verse 69: Sweet Until It Ripens
242End of Chapter 22: Hell
73Verse 70: Fasting Without Understanding
243Chapter 23: Nāgavagga - Blues Edition
74Verse 71: Fire Under Ashes
244The Elephant: Noble in Strength, Noble in Training
75Verse 72: Learning That Destroys
245Opening Words
76Verses 73-74: The Fool’s Ambitions
246Verses 320-321: Endure Abuse Like an Elephant in Battle
77Verse 75: Two Different Roads
247Verses 322-323: Self-Training Is the Noblest
78End of Chapter 5: Fools
248Verse 324: Dhanapālaka Remembers the Forest
79Chapter 6: Paṇḍitavagga - Blues Edition
249Verse 325: Don’t Be the Pig
80The Wise: Standing Like Rock, Deep Like a Lake
250Verse 326: Control the Mind Like an Elephant with a Goad
81Opening Words
251Verse 327: Raise Yourself from the Pit
82Verses 76-78: Choose Your People
252Verses 328-330: On Friendship and Solitude
83Verses 79-80: Drink Dhamma, Master Yourself
253Verse 331: What Is Good
84Verses 81-82: Rock and Lake
254Verse 332: Respecting Elders and Teachers
85Verse 83: Even in Pleasure, Even in Pain
255Verse 333: What’s Good Till Old Age
86Verse 84: Not for Self, Not for Other
256End of Chapter 23: The Elephant
87Verses 85-86: Few Cross to the Other Shore
257Chapter 24: Taṇhāvagga - Blues Edition
88Verses 87-89: Letting Go to Shine
258Craving: The Root That Keeps Growing Back
89End of Chapter 6: The Wise
259Opening Words
90Chapter 7: Arahantavagga - Blues Edition
260Verses 334-335: Craving Grows Like a Creeper
91The Arahants: Those Who Made It All the Way
261Verse 336: Overcome Craving, and Grief Falls Away
92Opening Words
262Verse 337: Dig Up the Root
93Verse 90: No More Fever
263Verse 338: The Root That Grows Back
94Verse 91: Geese Leaving the Lake
264Verses 339-340: The Thirty-Six Streams
95Verses 92-93: No Tracks in the Sky
265Verses 341-343: Crawling Like a Hare in a Trap
96Verse 94: Even the Gods Are Jealous
266Verse 344: Free, Yet Running Back to Bondage
97Verse 95: Earth, Post, Lake
267Verses 345-346: The Real Bonds
98Verse 96: Peace in Mind, Speech, and Action
268Verse 347: The Spider’s Web
99Verse 97: The Supreme Person
269Verse 348: Be Free of Past, Future, Present
100Verse 98: Wherever They Live Is Holy Ground
270Verses 349-350: Thoughts, Passion, and Their Antidote
101Verse 99: Joy Where Others Can’t Find It
271Verses 351-352: The Final Body
102End of Chapter 7: The Arahants
272Verse 353: The Buddha’s Own Words
103Chapter 8: Sahassavagga - Blues Edition
273Verse 354: The Gift That Surpasses All
104Thousands: One Truth Beats a Million Lies
274Verse 355: Riches Destroy the Stupid
105Opening Words
275Verses 356-359: The Four Weeds
106Verses 100-102: One Word of Truth
276End of Chapter 24: Craving
107Verses 103-105: Conquer Yourself
277Chapter 25: Bhikkhuvagga - Blues Edition
108Verses 106-108: Worth More Than a Hundred Years
278The Monk: Portrait of the Practitioner
109Verse 109: Four Things Increase
279Opening Words
110Verses 110-115: One Day vs. A Hundred Years
280Verses 360-361: Restraint of the Six Doors
111End of Chapter 8: Thousands
281Verse 362: The True Monk
112Chapter 9: Pāpavagga - Blues Edition
282Verse 363: Sweet Speech
113Evil: Drop by Drop, the Pot Fills
283Verse 364: Delighting in Dhamma
114Opening Words
284Verses 365-366: Don’t Despise Your Gains
115Verses 116-118: Hurry Toward Good
285Verse 367: No Fondness for Mind and Body
116Verses 119-120: It Ripens When It Ripens
286Verse 368: Dwelling in Loving-Kindness
117Verses 121-122: Drop by Drop
287Verse 369: Bail Out This Boat
118Verses 123-124: Avoid the Poison
288Verse 370: The Rule of Fives
119Verse 125: Dust Against the Wind
289Verse 371: Meditate, Monk!
120Verse 126: Where Do You End Up?
290Verse 372: Jhāna and Paññā
121Verses 127-128: Nowhere to Hide
291Verse 373: Superhuman Delight
122End of Chapter 9: Evil
292Verse 374: The Rise and Fall
123Chapter 10: Daṇḍavagga - Blues Edition
293Verses 375-376: The Beginning for the Wise Monk
124Violence: The Rod That Returns
294Verse 377: Cast Off Like Withered Flowers
125Opening Words
295Verse 378: The One at Peace
126Verses 129-130: Everyone Trembles
296Verses 379-380: Self Is the Refuge
127Verses 131-132: Harm Brings No Peace
297Verse 381: The State of Peace Again
128Verses 133-134: The Broken Gong
298Verse 382: The Young Monk Shines
129Verse 135: Old Age and Death Drive Us
299End of Chapter 25: The Monk
130Verses 137-140: Ten Bad Returns
300Chapter 26: Brāhmaṇavagga - Blues Edition
131Verses 141-142: What Really Purifies
301The Brahmin: That One I Call Awakened
132Verses 143-145: Be Like the Good Horse
302Opening Words
133End of Chapter 10: Violence
303Verses 383-384: Strive and Cut the Stream
134Chapter 11: Jarāvagga - Blues Edition
304Verse 385: No Near Shore, No Far Shore
135Old Age: The Housebuilder Has Been Seen
305Verse 386: The Dustless Meditator
136Opening Words
306Verse 387: The Buddha’s Radiance
137Verse 146: Why Are You Laughing?
307Verse 388: The Etymology of “Brahmin”
138Verses 147-150: This Body Is Falling Apart
308Verses 389-390: Don’t Strike a Brahmin
139Verses 151-152: What Lasts and What Doesn’t
309Verse 391: Restrained in Three Things
140Verses 153-154: The Housebuilder (The Buddha’s Enlightenment Song)
310Verse 392: Bow to Your Teacher
141Verses 155-156: Don’t Waste Your Youth
311Verse 393-394: Not Birth, But Truth
142End of Chapter 11: Old Age
312Verse 395: The Forest Meditator
143Chapter 12: Attavagga - Blues Edition
313Verse 396: Not Birth, But Non-Attachment
144The Self: Nobody Can Purify You But You
314Verse 397: Cut All Fetters, Don’t Tremble
145Opening Words
315Verse 398: The Thong, the Strap, the Rope
146Verses 157-160: Guard Yourself, Train Yourself
316Verse 399: Endurance Is Strength
147Verses 161-162: Evil Crushes Itself
317Verse 400: The Final Body
148Verses 163-165: No One Can Purify Another
318Verse 401: Unsmeared by Desires
149Verse 166: Know Your Own Good
319Verse 402: Knowing Suffering’s End
150End of Chapter 12: The Self
320Verse 403: Deeply Wise
151Chapter 13: Lokavagga - Blues Edition
321Verse 404: Doesn’t Mix
152The World: Bubble, Mirage, Gilded Trap
322Verse 405: Laid Down the Stick
153Opening Words
323Verse 406: Friendly Among the Hostile
154Verses 167-169: Live by Dhamma
324Verse 407: Passion Drops Like a Mustard Seed
155Verses 170-171: Bubble, Mirage, Gilded Chariot
325Verse 408: Truth Spoken Gently
156Verses 172-173: Moon Breaking Through
326Verse 409: Takes Nothing Not Given
157Verses 174-175: Few Escape
327Verse 410: No Longings
158Verses 176-177: The Liar and the Miser
328Verse 411: Immersion in the Deathless
159Verse 178: Better Than World Sovereignty
329Verse 412: Beyond Merit and Demerit
160End of Chapter 13: The World
330Verse 413: Pure Like the Moon
161Chapter 14: Buddhavagga - Blues Edition
331Verse 414: Crossed the Dangerous Path
162The Buddha: Pathless, Trackless, Supreme
332Verses 415-416: Giving Up Craving and Desire
163Opening Words
333Verses 417-418: Beyond All Yokes
164Verses 179-180: The Pathless One
334Verse 419: Knows Beings’ Passing and Rebirth
165Verses 181-182: Four Rare Things
335Verse 420: Unknown Destiny
166Verse 183: The Teaching of ALL Buddhas
336Verse 421: Nothing in Past, Present, or Future
167Verses 184-185: Non-Harm and Practice
337Verse 422: The Noble Leader
168Verses 186-187: No Satisfaction in Pleasure
338Verse 423: The Final Verse
169Verses 188-192: The Three Refuges
339THE DHAMMAPADA IS FINISHED
170Verses 193-196: The Buddha’s Arising Is Good
340COLOPHON
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