In this companion to his bestselling translation ofamp160The Dhammapada Eknath Easwaran explains howamp160The Dhammapadaamp160is a perfect map for the spiritual journey.Said to be the text closest to the Buddhas actual wordsamp160The Dhammapadaamp160is a collection of short teachings that his disciples memorized during his lifetime. Easwaran presentsamp160The Dhammapadaamp160as a guide to spiritual perseverance progress and ultimately enlightenment a heroic confrontation with life as it really is with straight answers to our deepest questions. We witness the heartbreak of death for instance amp8212 what does that mean for us What is love How does karma work How do we follow the spiritual life in the midst of work and family Does nirvana really exist and if so what is it like to be illuminedIn his interpretation of Buddhist themes illustrated with stories from the Buddhaamp8217s life Easwaran offers a view of the concept of Right Understanding that is both exhilarating and instructive. He shares his experiences on the spiritual path giving the advice that only an experienced teacher and practitioner can offer and urges us to answer for ourselves the Buddhaamp8217s call to nirvana amp8212 that mysterious enduring state of wisdom joy and peace.