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. Saddharmapuarikasutra scripture of the white lotus of the marvelous law into chinese in 406 c. Its a seminal work in the development of buddhism throughout east asia and, by extension. The first british woman to motorcycle around the world. The lotus sutra download the lotus sutra ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Burton watson s felicitous rendition of the lotus sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the chinese text. The lotus sutra chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22 chapter 23 chapter 24 chapter 25 chapter 26 chapter 27 chapter 28 1 introduction this is what i heard. Whats being evaluated here is the translation and presentation of the work. Motifs from the lotus sutra figure prominently in the dunhuang caves built in the sui era. Depicting events in a cosmic world that transcends ordinary concepts of time and space, the lotus sutra presents abstract religious concepts in concrete terms and affirms that there is a single path to enlightenment that of the.
The object of intense veneration among generations of buddhists in china, korea, japan, and other parts of east asia, it has attracted more commentary than any other buddhist scripture and has had a profound impact on. Watson s translation of the lotus sutra appeared, i met with him again. 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. View test prep na from astronomy 142 at university of michigan. True doctrine is the most famous mahayana, if not buddhist, sutra. They cross reference the chinese version of the lotus sutra in the taisho canon. Finally, there is burton watson s translation which, although the freest translation of them all, and watson himself not a buddhist, but rather a translator of chinese classical texts in general, he still manages to capture all the enthusiasm, sense of wonder, miraculousness of the spirit of the lotus and as a beginners introduction to the. Overall, burton watson s translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily found in print.
He was subsequently commissioned by the soka gakkai international sgi to do a translation of. There are never any unnecessary verbal flourishes or words which jar slightly. Archived from the original pdf on september 10, 2011. I have read the watson, reeves and the kato version. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics. 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. Buy the lotus sutra translations from the asian classics new ed by watson, burton isbn.
Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra has been regarded as. In this fun, engaging, and plainenglish book, gene reevesthe translator of wisdoms critically acclaimed and bestselling edition of the lotus sutra presents the most memorable and remarkable of the lotus sutra s many stories and parables, along with a distillation of his decades of reflection on them in an accessible, inspiring, and naturally. Burton dewitt watson june, 1925 april 1, 2017 was an american sinologist, translator. Consequently, kumarajivas understanding of the sanskrit original is allowed to shine forth in english on its own terms. Poems of a mountain home, and the columbia book of chinese poetry. 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. At that time the buddha maternal aunt, the nun mahaprajapati, and the six thousand nuns who accompanied her, some still learning. Columbia universit presy s new yor chichesterk wes susset x. 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. Lotus sutra five the parable of the medicinal herbs. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab. Burton watson born 1925 age 8889 new rochelle, new york, united states occupation scholar, translator nationality american period 1962present burton watson from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia burton watson born 1925 is an american scholar and translator 1 of both chinese and japanese literature. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english.
It is now ready for them to step farther to listen to the lotus sutra. Rajagriha was a city on the site of presentday rajgir, in northeastern india, and gridhrakuta, or vultures peak, is nearby. 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. 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. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of. At one time the buddha was in rajagriha, staying on mount gridhrakuta. Sharing this spiritual and philosophical treasure with the world provides a great light of hope that illuminates the spirit of humanity.
But as indicated here, the buddha at times deliberately implants such doubts in shariputras mind as a means of furthering the exposition of the doctrine. His translations include the lotus sutra, the vimalakirti sutra, ryokan. Pdf the lotus sutra download full pdf book download. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Lotus sutra one introduction lotus sutra two expedient means lotus sutra three simile and parable lotus sutra four belief and understanding. Anachronisms are kept to a minimum and the decisions he has. 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. Miao fa lian hua jing, which was translated from sanskrit into chinese by kumarajiva. The lotus sutra translated by burton\watson w columbia university press new york. You never have to blink twice when reading a word of it so you are left with the text itself to understand. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement. At that time the worldhonored one addressed bodhisattva medicine king. His ship was in the marshall islands when the war ended in august 1945, and on. Overall, burton watsons translation is a good, nonoffensive goto edition pretty easily.
In 1943, at age 17, watson dropped out of high school to join the. The lotus sutra is regarded as one of the worlds great religious scriptures and most influential texts. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics columbia university press. Burton watsons recent translation is better grammatically. The lotus sutra livros na amazon brasil 9780231081603. Lotus sutra twenty eight the encouragement of bodhisattva universally worthy. Burton watson s version of the lotus sutra is an example of good literary style in a translation. And through him the eighty thousand great men, saying.
The sutras i have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands millions. Buddhism has legitimate reason to modify andor adapt the contents of any such. Pdf the lotus sutra by burton watson download pdf free. Burton watson is one of the worlds bestknown translators from the chinese and japanese. Burton watson was born on june, 1925, in new rochelle, new york, where his father was a hotel manager. Since its appearance in china in the third century, the lotus sutra. So, the lotus sutra begins by making a connection to a real place associated with the historical buddha. Buy the lotus sutra by professor burton watson translator online at alibris. Contents translators introductio in x translators note xxii i the lotu sutrs a 1. The lotus sutra by professor burton watson translator. Conceived as a drama of colossal proportions, the text takes on new meaning in burton watson s translation. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics burton watson. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson chapter ten.
The impact of lotus sutra ideas and imagery on the development of east asian buddhist thought and practice is widely acknowledged. Esteemed translator burton watson has rendered a beautiful english translation from the popular chinese version produced in 406 c. Then the rich mans son, jeweled accumulation, in the presence of the buddha recited these verses of praise. When he had finished preaching the sutra, he sat crosslegged in the. Audio textsat that time the buddha spoke once more to the bodhisattva and mahasattva medicine king, saying. Medicine king, do you see in this great assembly the immeasurable number of heavenly beings, dragons kings, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras. From early times to the thirteenth century, all published by columbia. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas. 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. We talked about the ongi kuden, which embodies nichirens comments on the lotus sutra. Download pdf the lotus sutra free online new books in. The lotus sutra translations from the asian classics burton watson 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. 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 taisho edition. Translations of the lotus sutra baker centre for translation.
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