Buddha is about to expound the sutra of the great vehicle mahayana called the lotus. Jun 23, 2010 an important aspect of this scripture is that it contains a report of a teaching addressed to both arhats and bodhisattvas by the layman vimalakirti, who expounds the doctrine of sunyata, or emptiness, to them. The vimalakirti sutra is written in northern india about 100 ce. Expository commentary on the vimalakirti sutra bdk america. The teachings of vimalakirti minnesota zen meditation center. His translations include the lotus sutra, the vimalakirti sutra, ryokan. The vimalakirti sutra translations from the asian classics. Burton watson, the vimalakirti sutra columbia university press, 2000. Considering the manifold complexities and beauties of the work, this is a stunning achievement. How to have sex, tantric sex volume 1 the vimalakirti sutra the heart attack sutra. Kumarajivas version of the lotus sutra as the basic text, rather than the taisho edition. This culminates with the wordless teaching of silence. Burton watson s translation of the lotus sutra is probably the best modern translation its the one ive always turned to anyway.
Get ebooks the vimalakirti sutra on pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi and audiobook for free. Watson is one of the most respected translators of buddhist texts. It was translated into chinese several times, first in 188 ce which was lost over time. Jul 23, 2017 burton watson born 1925 age 8889 new rochelle, new york, unitedstates 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 japaneseliterature. Translated by burton watson in 1997 from the chinese version by kumarajiva t. Columbia university press 1996 abstract the vimalakirti sutra, one of the most influential works of the mahayana buddhist canon, is of particular importance in the chan or zen sect. Vasubandhus commentary to the saddharmapundarikasutra. You, lay person, can know the enlightenment of the buddhas. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of. Columbia university press 1996 abstract the vimalakirti sutra, one of the most influential works of the mahayana buddhist canon, is of. 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. The sutra of queen srimala of the lions roar and the.
Vasubandhus commentary to the saddharmapundarika sutra. The analects lunyu, translated with an introduction and commentary by annping chin, penguin classics 2014. The lord buddha was in residence in the garden of amrapali, in the city of vaisali, attended by a great gathering. From kumarajivas chinese and featuring a short introduction thurman, robert 2000. Burton watson is one of the worlds bestknown translators from the chinese and japanese. Originally written in sanskrit, probably in the first century c. Burton watsons felicitous rendition of the lotus sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the chinese text. Among his many awards is the penralph manheim medal for translation for his long and prolific career in chinese, japanese, and english languages. Consequently, kumarajivas understanding of the sanskrit original is allowed to shine forth in english on its own terms. Another fine translation which may be of interest is vimalakirti nirdesa sutra. From early times to the thirteenth century, all published by. This combination of the burton translation of the lotus sutra, and the commentaries of rev.
Vimalakirti the vimalakirti sutra translations from the. The teaching of vimalakirti minnesota zen meditation center. Translated by burton watson in 1997 from the chinese. It was originally composed in sanskrit and produced in india, but was later translated into many other languages, including chinese, tibetan, sogdian, khotanese, uighur, mongolian, and manchu. Burton watson s felicitous rendition of the lotus sutra captures superbly well the literary essence of the chinese text. Chinese rhymeprose by burton watson translator pdf. Burton dewitt watson june, 1925 april 1, 2017 was an american sinologist, translator, and writer known for his numerous translations of chinese and japanese literature into english. With a translation by the noted scholar burton watson, includes an introduction to the philosopher in relation to chinese history and thought.
Up till here, the stage was set for a great discussion at vimalakirtis house. From early times to the thirteenth century, all published by columbia. Burton watson is the foremost englishlanguage translator of classical chinese and japanese literature. With very few exceptions the readings in these two editions are almost exactly the same in meaning, and the differences are too slight to have any sig nificant effect on the translation. Translator burton watson argues that the vimalakirti nirdesa was likely composed in approximately 100 ce. The text imparts its penetrating insight by first elaborating the manifold nuances of this doctrine in finely honed formal language, next by demonstrating the ideal in exquisite philosophical repartee. Reverence to all buddhas, bodhisattvas, arya sravakas, and pratyekabuddhas, in the past, the present, and the future chapter i. You never have to blink twice when reading a word of it so you are. Esteemed translator burton watson has rendered a beautiful english translation from the popular chinese version produced in 406 c. Because the teaching of the vimalakirti sutra goes back and forth between two different. Watsons translations received many awards, including the gold medal award of the translation center at columbia university in 1979, the pen translation prize in 1982 for his translation. One of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of. From the chinese version by kumarajiva kumarajiva, burton watson one of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of mahayana buddhism for its conciseness, its vivid and humorous episodes, its dramatic narratives, and its eloquent exposition of. I find that the translation by itself is sometimes difficult to read in context, and the.
Relg 3325 buddhism university of central arkansas autumn, 2014 days and time. Navy, and was stationed on repair vessels in the south pacific during the final years of the pacific theatre of world war ii. Translator burton watson argues that the vimalakirti nirdesa sutra was likely composed in india in approximately 100 ce. Vimalakirti sutra october 7 great vehicle vimalakirti sutra october 9 midterm examination. In 1943, at age 17, watson dropped out of high school to join the u. The analects of confucius, translated by burton watson, columbia university press 2007. In vimalakirtis house, the discussion centered around the need for a bodhisattva to engage the world in order to attain ultimate wisdom. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas. Publication date 201807 topics buddhism collection opensource language english.
Burton watson the vimalakirti sutra from the chinese version by kumarajiva by mystic. Already in the past he had offered alms to immeasurable numbers of buddhas, had deeply planted the roots of goodness, and had grasped the truth of birthlessness. Terry rae abbott 1985 dissertation, university of california, berkeley. Download the entire vimalakirti sutra free pdf ebook. The vimalakirti sutra vimalakirtinirdesasutra is renowned in contemporary world buddhism for its breathtaking exposition of the mahayana doctrine of nonduality, and justifiably so. Burton watsons version of the lotus sutra is an example of good literary style in a translation. One reason for the sutras popularity is that its principal character, vimalakirti, is not a buddha or a bodhisattva or even a monk but a layman with a family living in india, leading apparently a secular life. The sutra of queen srimala of the lions roar and the vimalakirti sutra diana y. His vimalakirti is translated from the kumarajiva chinese text. Burton watson born 1925 age 8889 new rochelle, new york, unitedstates 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 japaneseliterature.
There are more than 1 million books that have been enjoyed by people from all over the world. Always update books hourly, if not looking, search in the book search column. One of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of mahayana buddhism for its conciseness, its vivid and humorous episodes, its dramatic narratives, and its eloquent exposition of the key doctrine of emptiness or nondualism. The vimalakirti sutra by watson, burton, 1925publication date 1997 publisher new york. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Ordinary enlightenment a translation of the vimalakirti nirdesa sutra by charles luk. The vimalakirti sutra, translated by burton watson columbia university press, 1997 3. Aug 16, 2018 burton watson, the vimalakirti sutra columbia university press, 2000. Review by ratnaprabha of the vimalakirti sutra, translated by burton watson columbia university press, new york, 1997 towards the end of this great buddhist classic, the buddha remarks that those who love varied phrases and literary embellishments are beginners in the bodhisattva way.
His translations include the vimalakirti sutra, chuang tzu. One of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of mahayana. The vimalakirti sutra is one of the most popular mahayana sutras. The vimalakirti sutra, one of the most influential works of the mahayana buiddhist canon, is of particular importance in the chan or zen sect. The vimalakirti sutra by burton watson, the journal of asian studies 57 1, 205206 via jstor subscription required vimalakirti nirdesa sutra. The lotus sutra by burton watson 9780231081610 paperback. Burton watson was born on june, 1925, in new rochelle, new york, where his father was a hotel manager. The teaching of vimalakirti presents in 14 fairly short chapters the core teachings of mahayana. Pdf and handouts to be uploaded or distributed in class. Burton watsons recent translation is better grammatically. Asrecordedinthepalicanon,thebuddhaandhisdisciplesl ivedinan. A new commentary on the heart sutra kama sutra for beginners. The vimalakirti nirdesha sutra is a mayahana buddhist scripture that dates from the second century ce. Poems of a mountain home, and the columbia book of chinese poetry.
Burton watson the vimalakirti sutra from the chinese. His translations include the lotus sutra, chuang tzu. The vimalakirti sutra translations from the asian classics editorial noun translated by burton watson wm. Doctrinally, the vimalakirti sutra elaborates ideas deriving. The lotus sutra audiobook by hendrik kern, nicolas soames. As translated by burton watson, columbia university press, 2000, isbn.
Numata center for buddhist translation and research. At that time in the great city of vaishali there was a rich man named vimalakirti. Shokai kanai, was my idea of making the actual sutra more readable and understandable. The vimalakirti sutra is wellknown for saying that if your mind is pure, your world will be a pure land as well. The sutra of queen srimala of the lions roar and the vimalakirti sutra pdf.