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A Review of Four Translations of the Teaching of Vimalakirti

Vimalakirti debating Manjushri Bodhisattva. Tang Dynasty painting from the Dunhuang Caves

You may download a scholarly review by Jan Nattier of four different English translations of The Teaching of Vimalakirti (Vimalakirtinirdesa) that I recently found. I am not recommending it for most of you, as it is quite technical and has almost as many footnotes as text, but I am still including it because I think some of you may want to read it. I am including it for the following reasons:

1-It will help you realize just how difficult it is to translate anything into English from Sanskrit, Chinese, or Tibetan and, in this case, all three. I know how grateful I am of those who have put so much effort into translation and want to apologize for my impatience and complaining about not having more. THANKS!

2-The Vimalakirti Sutra is so special to us not only because it was about a previous incarnation of our Buddha Master, Dorje Chang Buddha, but as we go deeper into understanding Imparting the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, we realize how important it is to understanding the Mahayana aspiration and realization and the message of this sutra.

3-There are subtle insights into the Vimalakirti Sutra that are revealed in this analysis of the different translations that are useful.

4-I am grateful that I found my Buddha Master who teaches the actual practice of Buddhism and the true Buddha Dharma and that I did not try to get a PhD in Buddhism from either Star King or Harvard as I once considered when I decided to become a Buddhist even though I must admit I greatly enjoyed this article.

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Thus Have I Seen (and Heard) on zhaxizhuoma.org is a blog offered by Zhaxi Zhuoma for English-speaking followers and those interested in the teachings and activities of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. Read more about this blog

Caveat

Most of the quotes from H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III posted on this blog are from unapproved translations and may contain errors. Likewise the contents of this blog have not been reviewed or approved by the Buddha and should be considered as reference material and not Buddha-dharma.

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