The "translations" of the Dhammapada that exist currently, never would have inspired even the most gullible peoples of the ancient world to convert to Buddhism. It is quite amazing to me that no one has seen this apparently. Laughably, if the current bland "translations" were shredded and fed to someone as roughage, they would still not be "moved". None of them have anything to do with the Sramana spiritual movement, which overtook many peoples to convert to Gautama's Sasana (doctrine). Gautama's name literally means (The noble heavenly Ox who transcends to utmost northerly illuminating unchanging deathlessness from rebirth and darkness). This very Sutra is actually the catalyst for the explosion of Buddhism into Southeast Asia and also to China and later into Japan, and of course eventually into America, albeit in a very impotent and lifeless form without substance. Numerous copies of the corpus of the Buddhist canon were made and spread far and wide. This very act of Faith in the true doctrine of lord Buddha is the very same reason those most valuable texts have survived in Southeast Asia and parts of China; most certainly after war and strife ravaged many of the collections in India. Nothing, which is incorrectly being portrayed within other speculative and highly inaccurate "translations" of the Dhammapada, would have moved anyone in the days of yore, and most certainly not in this instant gratification world we currently have made for ourselves; to have seen the positive doctrine of the Buddha, which was about illumination and vigilance in wisdom, which culminated in transcendence to utmost bliss and passing over rebirth into Nibbana (Nirvana). All current "translations" read no better than bicycle assembly instructions; which agreeably, would move no one to lift a finger to spur their very being to accomplish anything. Might I say to you that accuracy was paramount in my mind when translating the Dhammapada, and to restore the genuine beauty that moved millions to convert to Buddhism, both in India and later in China when it finally spread there. The restoration of original Buddhism, as it pertains to the oldest Buddhist texts surviving on earth should be priority one, which unfortunately one cannot say for other peers who have, in addition to regurgitating a reworded bad interpretation of Muller's text, have also only fulfilled an agenda to fit within their secular niche or scholasticism. The gospel of Gautama Buddha was not a nihilistic annihilationism as is currently portrayed in most all modern Pali translations, which has inevitably and most tragically become the status quo for all of modern Zen and Mahayana "spiritual suicide" secular dogmatism. The "translations" of the Dhammapada that exist currently only help to reinforce a kind of spiritual fatalism that was never taught in the doctrine of the Buddha throughout the entirety of the corpus of the Nikayas as will be explained later. Inaccurate "translation" in denial of the Pali: #380 Oneself, indeed is patron of oneself. Oneself is the guide of oneself. Therefore, oneself should restrain oneself. Just as a merchant a noble steed. Nonsecular accurate translation of the Pali: #380 The exquisite True Self, is indeed the lord, the master of the True Self, that very Atman utmost! The True Self is the highest borne! The True Self is the supreme refuge, utmost highest hyperborean excellent exquisite bliss indivisible deathlessness, and highest of highest fulfillments! Hence O' monks, guard well that True Self vigilantly! Just as the merchant trader guides and guards his precious Oxen along the hazardous road!
