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Work #1333 · Early

Dhammapada

Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha)
c. 3rd c. BCE (compiled) · Pali (with Gandhari and Sanskrit versions)
Verse collection of sayings · Theravada Buddhism / Pan-Buddhist scriptural tradition

Verse collection of Buddha's sayings — most-widely-read Buddhist scriptural text

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Dhammapada (Early)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Relational
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Relational
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Relational
Matter · Conservation Variable
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Partial
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Experience
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Variable
Energy · Dispersibility Reversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Variable
Information · Personal Conservation Variable
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Dhammapada

The c. 3rd c. BCE compilation; the earlier oral transmission.

Space

Dhammapada

The early-Buddhist Indian setting.

Matter

Dhammapada

The embodied practitioner whose religious-philosophical life the verses commend.

Observer

Dhammapada

The proper-Buddhist practitioner as proper subject.

Energy

Dhammapada

The religious-philosophical-meditative energies.

Information

Dhammapada

The 423 verses across 26 chapters.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Dhammapada

The Dhammapada has been among the most-translated Buddhist texts; modern translations vary substantially in approach and interpretation.