Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The Sacred Books of the East is a monumental 50 volume set that was compiled and translated between 1879 and 1910. The editor was F. Max Muller, with contributions by many eminent scholars such as T. W. Rhys Davids.
The Sacred Books covers the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Jainism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. This was an epic accomplishment; to bring to the public the sacred works of many disparate religions.
However, while all scholars give credit to F. Max Muller, it has been frequently noted that many of his translations are flawed or incorrect.
F. Max Muller translated the Upanishads and the Dhammapada in renditions that are still commonly used.
I cannot comment on his Sanskrit translation of the Upanishads, but I have noticed flaws and mistranslations in his rendition of the Dhammapada. In addition to the difficulty in translating words like dukkha, anicca, skhandas, and many other Pali words, his language can be ponderous and verbose. His knowledge of colloquial Pali can be sketchy.
For example, the first verse of the Dhammapada is translated:
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up off our thoughts."
Other translations;
"You are what you think"
"Mind precedes all mental states"
"Preceded by mind are phenomena, led by mind."
These are all renditions of the same scripture.
the Pali is;
Manopubbangama dhamma manosettha manomaya, manasa ce padutthena bhasat va katoti va tato nam dukkham anveti cakkam va vahato padam
This is the full translation of the first verse, the Yamakavagga, of the Dhammapada.
Is there one correct translation? No. I have at least a dozen renditions in my Buddhist library. What is helpful is to use a Pali dictionary and lexicon when going through the Dhammapada.
Better yet, ask yourself. The #1 rule I adopted at the beginning of my spiritual quest was "Have no guru but yourself." The Pope, Billy Graham, the Dalai Lama, Sai Baba, Deepak Chopra, L. Ron Hubbard and all the rest really know no more about What It's All About than does the average New York Knicks fan (calm down, I'm not knocking the Knicks, nor am I knicking the Knocks). In fact, finding a guru is probably the surest was to guarantee your spiritual quest is going nowhere.
Correct. Ehi passico. BUT! To get there, a nudge in the right direction is needed. Trying to DIY is destined to go astray as practically entire thinking in whatever direction is done by body mind. Body mind is cunning, it will ALWAYS give an answer, ALWAYS guide even in the most virtuous direction.
Except that any direction involving body mind is dead end. Mind game of self preservation.
Guru can teach the way and Master can open the lock. Gurus are not Masters. They are teachers.
But yes, in general, you basically are quoting Gautam - listen to no one. Not even me. Ehi passico.
But to get there.......
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
