List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Avatamsaka Sutra
Diamond Cutter Sutra
The Sutra of Golden Light
Diamond Cutter Sutra
The Sutra of Golden Light
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Complete Enlightenment Sutra
Vimalakirti Sutra
Diamond Sutra
(are you making statistics?)
Vimalakirti Sutra
Diamond Sutra
(are you making statistics?)
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
LOL If we're ever going to propose a Mahayana Sutra translation project to sponsors we need to figure out people's favourites, right?
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Since people here can read English but only very few knows canonical languages there is a big chance that all the favourite sutras are already translated, perhaps even more than once. So, instead of favourites, those that are not yet translated but are still considered important by the majority of the traditions should be published in English. Of course there are some sutras that could use a new translation (e.g. Lankavatara and the bigger Prajnaparamita Sutras).JKhedrup wrote:LOL If we're ever going to propose a Mahayana Sutra translation project to sponsors we need to figure out people's favourites, right?
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
You make an excellent point... Don't know why I didn't think of that...
The lack of cohesion within the Mahayana Buddhist world leads to duplication of translation efforts and neglect of very important Sutras and Shastras that are still awaiting translation. If we could get our act together and the different organizations could start thinking of Buddhism as a whole instead of their institutional objectives great things could happen. But, I'm not holding my breath...
It will still be interesting though to see which Sutras peope like.
The lack of cohesion within the Mahayana Buddhist world leads to duplication of translation efforts and neglect of very important Sutras and Shastras that are still awaiting translation. If we could get our act together and the different organizations could start thinking of Buddhism as a whole instead of their institutional objectives great things could happen. But, I'm not holding my breath...
It will still be interesting though to see which Sutras peope like.
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Avatamsaka Sutra
Diamond Sutra
It's a hard pick for the third between the Prajnaparamita, Shurangama and Vimalakirti sutras, but I am actually going to go with a less well known one from the Ratnakuta collection - I only know the English title as it is translated in "A treasury of Mahayana Sutras":
Demonstration of the Inconceivable State of Buddhahood Sutra
If the Ratnakuta collection could be heaped into one sutra, I'd go with that one as third choice. A lot of gems in there. And to my knowledge, this collection has yet to be translated in full.
Diamond Sutra
It's a hard pick for the third between the Prajnaparamita, Shurangama and Vimalakirti sutras, but I am actually going to go with a less well known one from the Ratnakuta collection - I only know the English title as it is translated in "A treasury of Mahayana Sutras":
Demonstration of the Inconceivable State of Buddhahood Sutra
If the Ratnakuta collection could be heaped into one sutra, I'd go with that one as third choice. A lot of gems in there. And to my knowledge, this collection has yet to be translated in full.
"Even if my body should be burnt to death in the fires of hell
I would endure it for myriad lifetimes
As your companion in practice"
--- Gandavyuha Sutra
I would endure it for myriad lifetimes
As your companion in practice"
--- Gandavyuha Sutra
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Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Totally with you on the Lankavatara. Can we have a new, academic translation of the Lanka? Others here have pointed out glaring issues with Red Pine's recent effort, so I hope there will be better translation in the horizon.Astus wrote:Of course there are some sutras that could use a new translation (e.g. Lankavatara and the bigger Prajnaparamita Sutras).
"Men must want to do things out of their own innermost drives. People, not commercial organizations or chains of command, are what make great civilizations work. Every civilization depends upon the quality of the individuals it produces. If you over-organize humans, over-legalize them, suppress their urge to greatness - they cannot work and their civilization collapses."
- A letter to CHOAM, attributed to the Preacher
- A letter to CHOAM, attributed to the Preacher
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Diamond Sutra
Sutra of Hei-neng
Surangama sutra
If there was a 4th maybe it would be the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings
Sutra of Hei-neng
Surangama sutra
If there was a 4th maybe it would be the Sutra of Innumerable Meanings
Last edited by randomseb on Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Disclaimer: If I have posted about something, then I obviously have no idea what I am talking about!
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Khedrup-la... I've never taken an interest in a meritorious project like you are without eventually finding that I am the one who does it.
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Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
[warning: Theravada, vegetarian bias]
1. Heart Sutra
2. Lankavatara Sutra
3. Diamond Sutra
[/end warning]
1. Heart Sutra
2. Lankavatara Sutra
3. Diamond Sutra
[/end warning]
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
You are very kind but I would need a lot of help! I hope as the years of translation work go by my skills at translating more difficult written material can become refined enough to really do a decent job on such projects.Khedrup-la... I've never taken an interest in a meritorious project like you are without eventually finding that I am the one who does it.
I used to dream of moving to Bhutan and spending my life doing such work but I realized that maybe wasn't the most realistic thing in the world. (Doesn't every Vajrayana practitioner who has visited Bhutan dream of moving there?)
The thing is though, with Geshe Sonam around (he was a petri gegan at Sera Jey)I do have a fantastic scholar to whom I could field questions if the opportunity arises.
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Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Nirvana Sutra
Queen Srimala Sutra
Lotus Sutra
Queen Srimala Sutra
Lotus Sutra
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
I don't really have a top three, but I'm rather fond of these:
Ratnarāśi Sūtra
Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā Sūtra
Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
Ratnarāśi Sūtra
Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā Sūtra
Ugraparipṛcchā Sūtra
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Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
This isn't an easy question to answer, but here goes:
Heart Sutra
Lotus Sutra
Lankavatara Sutra
(Hui-Neng's Platform Sutra would be a close fourth)
And I agree that we need a better English translation of the Lankavatara.
Heart Sutra
Lotus Sutra
Lankavatara Sutra
(Hui-Neng's Platform Sutra would be a close fourth)
And I agree that we need a better English translation of the Lankavatara.
"If you want to travel the Way of Buddhas and Zen masters, then expect nothing, seek nothing, and grasp nothing." -Dogen
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Is it possible?JKhedrup wrote: I used to dream of moving to Bhutan and spending my life doing such work but I realized that maybe wasn't the most realistic thing in the world. (Doesn't every Vajrayana practitioner who has visited Bhutan dream of moving there?)
Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
1. Amitabha Sutra
2. Heart Sutra
3. Tie: Contemplation Sutra and Diamond Sutra
2. Heart Sutra
3. Tie: Contemplation Sutra and Diamond Sutra
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Re: List your favourite top 3 Mahayana Sutras
Heart Sutra
Lankavatara Sutra
Diamond Sutra
Lankavatara Sutra
Diamond Sutra
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama