Can anyone recommend good translations of major Suttas?

George S Lteif, modified 10 Years ago at 10/26/13 4:56 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 10/26/13 4:56 AM

Can anyone recommend good translations of major Suttas?

Posts: 52 Join Date: 9/2/13 Recent Posts
I have recently read two suttas recommended by nice people on this forum:
Ānāpānasati Sutta (The breath A Vehicle for Liberation ) - Thanissaro Bhikku
Satipatthana Sutta - Ven. Analayo

Both were extremely interesting and helped fill a lot of gaps in my knowledge.

I am not very familiar with the major suttas in the teachings, so can anyone please recommend some good translations of major ones?

Many thanks.
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Ian And, modified 10 Years ago at 10/26/13 12:50 PM
Created 10 Years ago at 10/26/13 12:50 PM

RE: Can anyone recommend good translations of major Suttas?

Posts: 785 Join Date: 8/22/09 Recent Posts
An answer to your question all depends on what YOU consider major suttas. There are major suttas in each of the five Nikayas (the Khuddaka Nikaya being a compendium of several volumes among which are included the Dhammapada, the Udana, the Itivuttaka, and the Sutta Nipata all of which I would recommend as having essential discourses in them).

But if you are looking for the best translations that are currently available for any or all of the discourses of Gotama, your best bet would be to invest in the four volume set of the four major Nikayas (the Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, and Anguttara Nikayas) published by Wisdom Publications. You can find links to these in the following thread, together with even more recommendations for your reading and clarification pleasure: Essential Books from Theravadin Resources

Now, if all you're interested in are sutta about meditation, I would recommend purchasing the Majjhima Nikaya (translated by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi) along with the Anthology of The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha translated by Nyanaponika Thera and edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi. Why do I recommend these books in particular? Because of the wealth of the knowledge contained in the footnotes which help to clarify important sections of the text. I haven't had an opportunity yet to fully read Bodhi's newest translation (The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha) so I'm unable to provide an opinion about that. However, if it is anywhere near the quality of any of the other volumes that Bodhi has had a hand in assisting to publication, I expect it will also be a treasure to have and to read.

I would not recommend Bhikkhu Bodhi's anthology of discourses published in his In the Budddha's Words as I do not care for the translations in that volume. However, the volume is worth reading for the value of the Introductions that Bodhi has written to to each major section of suttas in that book. There are ten different sections and therefore ten Introductions which are very well written and researched as far as their relevance to explaining the Dhamma and the path to awakening.

As for understanding the Dhamma itself, I would recommend the two older volumes of discourses beginning with the Samyutta Nikaya (and of course the Anguttara Nikaya). Once again, the Introductions (as well as the footnotes) in the Samyutta Nikaya are very well written and bring out several important points about the Dhamma. Both these volumes are, according to scholars, among the oldest texts available of the discourses. The Sutta Nipata as well as other volumes from the Khuddaka Nikaya are also considered older in origin. These older texts are quite extraordinary in their clarity and ability to convey the original texture and intent of the Dhamma. They are the closest we have available to actually listening to original explanations of the Dhamma from the source himself.

Have fun.
George S Lteif, modified 10 Years ago at 10/27/13 6:09 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 10/27/13 6:09 AM

RE: Can anyone recommend good translations of major Suttas?

Posts: 52 Join Date: 9/2/13 Recent Posts
With my limited knowledge of the Suttas I still cannot make any distinctions...thanks for your reply, I believe the readings you recommended could keep busy for quiet some time emoticon
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Chris G, modified 10 Years ago at 12/9/13 12:56 PM
Created 10 Years ago at 12/9/13 12:56 PM

RE: Can anyone recommend good translations of major Suttas?

Posts: 118 Join Date: 8/22/09 Recent Posts
A few that I like from Majjhima Nikaya:

MN 2: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.002.than.html

MN 13: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.013.than.html

MN 61: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.061.than.html

MN 62: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.062.than.html

MN 75: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.075x.than.html

MN 95: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.than.html

[Note I haven't actually read Thanissaro's translations above -- I've read Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations (the Wisdom Publications editions that Ian pointed out). Links for convenience.]

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