Best/preferred Dhammapada English translation?
Quique
I would like to know which you think is the best/preferred English
translation of The Dhammapada (and please, elaborate why you think
so!):
* The Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran (Nilgiri Press, 1986, 2007)
* The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with
Annotations by Gil Fronsdal (Shambhala, 2006)
* The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha by John Ross Carter and
Mahinda Palihawadana (Oxford University Press, 2000)
* The Dhammapada by Balangoda Ananda Maitreya (Parallax Press, 1995)
* Other
Thank you in advance.
Monkey Mind
> Hi,
> I would like to know which you think is the best/preferred English
> translation of The Dhammapada (and please, elaborate why you think
> so!):
Best/preferred for what purpose? Do you want careful rendering of the
poetic devices? Word-by-word translation? Do you prefer "mind" or
"heart" or "mental states" as a translation of "mano" in the first
verse? Should it be easy to memorize? Easy to come by? With
commentary?
> * The Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran (Nilgiri Press, 1986, 2007)
>
> * The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with
> Annotations by Gil Fronsdal (Shambhala, 2006)
>
> * The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha by John Ross Carter and
> Mahinda Palihawadana (Oxford University Press, 2000)
>
> * The Dhammapada by Balangoda Ananda Maitreya (Parallax Press, 1995)
>
> * Other
Me, I like the free translations online at accesstoinsight.org for
quick reference - I generally prefer free Dhamma resources, and I like
online (or at least electronic) resources. (I also own a paperback
edition of theq German translation by Ven. Nyanatiloka, but that's not
what you asked for).
I've also found that after some time, and several re-readings, the
actual translation doesn't matter that much.
Cheers,
Florian
--
Every man passes out of life as if he had just been born.
-- Epicurus (Vatican Sayings 60)
Quique
> > Hi,
> > I would like to know which you think is the best/preferred English
> > translation of The Dhammapada (and please, elaborate why you think
> > so!):
>
> Best/preferred for what purpose? Do you want careful rendering of the
> poetic devices? Word-by-word translation? Do you prefer "mind" or
> "heart" or "mental states" as a translation of "mano" in the first
> verse? Should it be easy to memorize? Easy to come by? With
> commentary?
For best attainment of Buddha's teachings, I'd like a balance between
clarity and accuracy.
I won't memorize it. Commentary would be a plus, but it's not a must-
have.
Searching the Internet, I found the first verses of several English
translations of The Dhammapada:
* Eknath Easwaran:
Twin Verses
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering
follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that
draws it.
Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a
pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.
"He was angry with me, he attacked me, he defeated me, he robbed me" -
those who dwell on such thoughts will never be free from hatred.
"He was angry with me, he attacked me, he defeated me, he robbed me" -
those who do not dwell on such thoughts will surely become free from
hatred.
For hatred can never put an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an
unalterable law.
* Gil Fronsdal:
Dichotomies
All experience is preceded by mind,
Led by mind,
Made by mind.
Speak or act with a corrupted mind,
And suffering follows
As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of the ox.
All experience is preceded by mind,
Led by mind,
Made by mind.
Speak or act with a peaceful mind,
And happiness follows
Like a never-departing shadow.
"He abused me, attacked me,
Defeated me, robbed me!"
For those carrying on like this,
Hatred does not end.
"She abused me, attacked me,
Defeated me, robbed me!"
For those not carrying on like this,
Hatred ends.
Hatred never ends through hatred.
By non-hate alone does it end.
This is an ancient truth.
* John Ross Carter and Mahinda Palihawadana:
The Pairs
Preceded by perception are mental states,
For them is perception supreme,
From perception have they sprung.
If, with perception polluted, one speaks or acts,
Thence suffering follows
As a wheel the draught ox's foot.
Preceded by perception are mental states,
For them is perception supreme, From perception have they sprung.
If, with tranquil perception, one speaks or acts,
Thence ease follows
As a shadow that never departs.
'He reviled me! He struck me!
He defeated me! He robbed me!' They who gird themselves up with this,
For them enmity is not quelled.
'He reviled me! He struck me!
He defeated me! He robbed me!' They who do not gird themselves up with
this,
For them is enmity quelled.
Not by enmity are enmities quelled,
Whatever the occasion here. By the absence of enmity are they quelled.
This is an ancient truth.
* Balangoda Ananda Maitreya
Twins
Mind is the forerunner of all actions.
All deeds are led by mind, created by mind.
If one speaks or acts with a corrupt mind, suffering follows,
As a wheel follows the hoof of an ox pulling a cart.
Mind is the forerunner of all actions.
All deeds are led by mind, created by mind.
If one speaks or acts with a serene mind, happiness follows,
As surely as one's shadow.
"He abused me, mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me."
Harboring such thoughs keeps hatred alive.
"He abused me, mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me."
Releasing such thoughts banishes hatred for all time.
Annimosity does not eradicate animosity.
Only by loving kindness is animosity dissolved.
This law is ancient and eternal.
Easwaran's translation is by far the clearest, but looks like it's
also the one who further departs from the original.
As a non native speaker, I find Carter and Palihawadana's translation
somewhat complex.
Fronsdal's and Maitreya's seems to lay somewhere in between.
> I've also found that after some time, and several re-readings, the
> actual translation doesn't matter that much.
Maybe not, but a good translation will problably make things easier.
I'll problaby go Fronsdal. Any comments?
norbu....@gmail.com
There are the translations available at accesstoinsight.com...these
are available to download at buddhanet.com
as pdf files as well as another translation or so...
There is also Byrom's translation, available here and there online
such as
http://www.geocities.com/phoenixwatlao/dhamma.html
There are also many good old translations...
i like Byrom's for style and brevity, but Weragoda Sarada Thero's
translation
available at Buddhanet.com gives a word for word translation with
comparison
of the Pali and English text so that you can figure out your own best
translation
or enrich your understanding of the other translation.
my advice - get them all, they're free - then start with any, but a
chapter at a time
comparing them - they enrich each other.
- n.