It is the root text, so to speak, of the pure land schools, which often regard it as the principal buddhist sutra, the study and practice of which projects the participant along the path to nirvana. Anyone wanting to explore one of the deep pools of human wisdom and insight, in fact the deepest, i would recommend pulling on the thread of the lotus sutra. A newer translation of the lotus sutra by gene reeves wisdom publications, 2008 is. Accompanying him were a multitude of leading monks numbering twelve thousand persons. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter sixteen. Among his many awards is the penralph manheim medal for translation for his long and prolific career in chinese, japanese, and english languages. Burton watson translates a passage from chapter 21 of the lotus sutra as follows. A very nice, personal essay of why the lotus sutra is important to michael wenger, of the san francisco zen center pdf.
In 1943, at age 17, watson dropped out of high school to join the u. The lotus sutra as a text has been translated into different languages. Lotus sutra eight prophecy of enlightenment for five hundred disciples lotus sutra nine. As a literary work, he praised this version of the sutra as half novel and half drama, with the greatest impact on literature and fine arts.
Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Overall, burton watsons translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily. Saddhama pundarika sutra, the discourse on the white lotus of the. Nichiren often uses the words lotus sutra in his writings to designate nam myoho renge kyo, the law that he defines as the essence of the lotus sutra. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of rev. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson published on july, 1993 burton watson on. More information about this seller contact this seller. At one time the buddha was in rajagriha, staying on mount gridhrakuta. Watson, who by this time had completed his translation of the sutra itself, expressed a deep interest in the manner in which nichiren interpreted it. Conceived as a drama of colossal proportions, the text takes on new meaning in burton watson \s translation.
Translation of the kumarajiva version of the lotus. An excellent edition of this essential east asian buddhist text. At that time the buddha addressed the bodhisattvas, the heavenly and human beings, and the four kinds of believers saying. The impact of lotus sutra ideas and imagery on the development of east asian buddhist thought and practice is widely acknowledged. Burton watson s translation of the lotus sutra columbia university press, 1993 has gained great popularity since its publication for its clarity and readability. Lotus sutra excerpts the lotus utrg translated by burton. Consequently, kumarajivas understanding of the sanskrit original is allowed to shine forth in english on its own terms. At that time the worldhonored one addressed bodhisattva medicine king. The lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra translated by burton watson chapter seven. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras. The lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra translated by burton watson chapter thirteen. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter one.
Free of worldly attachments, like the lotus blossom. In translating the chinese text into english we used the kasuga edition of kumarajivas version of the lotus sutra as the basic text, rather than the. As watson notes in the introduction to his remarkable translation, the lotus sutra is not so much an integral work as a collection of religious texts, an anthology of sermons, stories, and devotional manuals, some speaking with particular force to persons of one type or in one set of circumstances, some to those of another type or in other. And through him the eighty thousand great men, saying.
But if you have to choose only one translation due to budget constraints, then i urge you to get the burton watson translation of the revered lotus sutra. Pdf teaching tips from the lotus sutra john teeter academia. Immeasurable kalpas in the past, i sought the lotus sutra without ever flagging. An interesting look at the first translation from chinese of the lotus sutra. The lotus sutra translated by hendrik kern,1884 lotus. Burton watson has 79 books on goodreads with 18385 ratings. According to burton watson, eminent professor of language and translator of the lotus sutra into english, the lotus sutra is one of the most important and influential of all the sutras. View lotus sutra excerpts from finance 633 at bellevue college. Contents translators introductio in x translators note xxii i the lotu sutrs a 1. Graduate institute eastern classics seminar reading list. Lotus sutra five the parable of the medicinal herbs lotus sutra six bestowal of prophecy. Burton watson was born on june, 1925, in new rochelle, new york, where his father was a hotel manager. Burton watson translation, stephen addiss illustrator.
The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras book. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter ten. Lotus sutra five the parable of the medicinal herbs. The good news is that burton watson s translation of the lotus sutra really brings this text to the western audience in a way never done before. The lotus sutra bdk english tripitaka translation series. Miao fa lian hua jing, which was translated from sanskrit into chinese by kumarajiva includes index. The lotus sutra translated by burt watson is to be treasured, read and reread. Since its appearance in china in the third century. Good men, you must believe and understand the truthful words of the thus come one. The lotus sutra is one of the most important mahayana texts and the most widely read, chanted and revered, particularly in asian buddhist countries, notably china and japan. In another thread came up the question on which translation of the lotus sutra is the best. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras by. Lotus sutra twenty eight the encouragement of bodhisattva universally worthy.
As far as i know there are seven translations of the lotus sutra in english. Overall, burton watson s translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily found in print. The supernatural powers of the buddhas, as you have seen, are immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics burton watson. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras translated by burton watson daisaku iketa, burton watson on. The lotus utrg translated by burton watson columbia university press, i993. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics. The lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras translated by burton watson. Motifs from the lotus sutra figure prominently in the dunhuang caves built in the sui era. Watson s translation of the lotus sutra appeared, i met with him again. The lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra translated by burton watson chapter eight. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter twelve.
He was subsequently commissioned by the soka gakkai international sgi to do a translation of. All were arhats whose outflows had come to an end, who had no more earthly desires, who had. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement. At that time the buddha spoke to the bodhisattvas and all the great assembly. The lotus sutra indian by translated by burton watson. To further aid the understanding and enjoyment of the lotus sutra, a pdf containing the entire recorded text is available with the download of the audio. Heres the article, and heres the translation slightly revised they are talking about. At that time the buddha spoke to superior practices and the others in the great assembly of bodhisattvas, saying. Medicine king, do you see in this great assembly the immeasurable number of heavenly beings, dragons kings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras. The sutras i have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands millions.
Whats being evaluated here is the translation and presentation of the work. The language of lotus sutras parable of medicinal herbs. The object of intense veneration among generations of buddhists in china, korea, japan, and other parts of the world, it has had a profound impact on the great works of japanese and chinese literature, attracting more commentary than. Brand new copy of the burton watson translation of the lotus sutra. A translation of the lotus sutra which has been regarded as one of the. The lotus sutra saddharma pundarika sutra translated by burton watson chapter nine.
Translations of the lotus sutra baker centre for translation. Medicinal herbs from the 2009 translation by burton watson. Burton watson s felicitous rendition of the lotus sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the chinese text. Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra. Columbia universit presy s new yor chichesterk wes susset x.
Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures in the mahayana buddhist canon. We talked about the ongi kuden, which embodies nichirens comments on the lotus sutra. Numata center for buddhist translation and research. Ive been practicing nichiren daishonins buddhism with the nichiren shoshu for 12.
The diamond sutra, the heart sutra, the sutra of hui neng. This translation is recognized as the most correct of all of the translations. Brief translators introduction, sanskrit glossary, and selected bibliography. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas. Three translations of a passage from the lotus sutra. The translation by burton watson is a bit more accessible, ut perhaps this translation is a bit more sensitive to buddhist terms and style. Dogen, bendowa, in the heart of dogens shobogenzo, translated by waddell and abe suny press. Wang argues that the explosion of art inspired by the lotus sutra, starting from the 7th and 8th centuries in china, was a confluence of text and the topography of the chinese medieval mind in which the latter dominated. Shokai kanai, was my idea of making the actual sutra more readable and understandable. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Kubo and akira yuyama 2007, reeves 2008, warner and murano 20, and watson 1993. I find that the translation by itself is sometimes difficult to read in context, and the. Burton helps provide good context in the introduction as to how to read the sutra, as well as explanation of some of the people and places.
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