Cleary Avatamsaka Translation Question

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ThreeVows
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Cleary Avatamsaka Translation Question

Post by ThreeVows »

As many know, Cleary seems to have tended to translate everything into English, including some words that are commonly left in a non-English form.

For example, the commonly used term "Bodhisattva" is translated as "enlightening being".

My question is this - when Cleary says "reality body", is that a translation of the term 'dharmakaya'?

Apart from that, are there any commonly used Buddhist terms that Cleary chose to translate into English that might be clarified?

Thanks for any input.
“Whoever wants to find the wisdom beyond intellect without praying to his guru is like someone waiting for the sun to shine in a cave facing the north. He will never realize appearances and his mind to be one.”
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
diamind
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Re: Cleary Avatamsaka Translation Question

Post by diamind »

Seeker12 wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:49 pm As many know, Cleary seems to have tended to translate everything into English, including some words that are commonly left in a non-English form.

For example, the commonly used term "Bodhisattva" is translated as "enlightening being".

My question is this - when Cleary says "reality body", is that a translation of the term 'dharmakaya'?

Apart from that, are there any commonly used Buddhist terms that Cleary chose to translate into English that might be clarified?

Thanks for any input.
I'm definitely not a fan of translating the Sanskrit into English but Lord Buddha was. So to answer your first question yes "reality body" or "truth body" are synonymous with Dharmakaya.

Other commonly used terms are "emanation body" and "complete enjoyment body" for nirmanakaya and sambhogakaya respectively.
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ThreeVows
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Re: Cleary Avatamsaka Translation Question

Post by ThreeVows »

diamind wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:39 pm
Seeker12 wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:49 pm As many know, Cleary seems to have tended to translate everything into English, including some words that are commonly left in a non-English form.

For example, the commonly used term "Bodhisattva" is translated as "enlightening being".

My question is this - when Cleary says "reality body", is that a translation of the term 'dharmakaya'?

Apart from that, are there any commonly used Buddhist terms that Cleary chose to translate into English that might be clarified?

Thanks for any input.
I'm definitely not a fan of translating the Sanskrit into English but Lord Buddha was. So to answer your first question yes "reality body" or "truth body" are synonymous with Dharmakaya.

Other commonly used terms are "emanation body" and "complete enjoyment body" for nirmanakaya and sambhogakaya respectively.
Thanks, I figured that was simply his translation of choice.

As Buddhism is more established in the West, IMO it's nice to keep some of the major terms untranslated. For example, śamatha, vipaśyanā, the various kayas, bodhisattva, even things like prajñā, etc. In general, it's fairly easy for someone who doesn't know the term to find extensive explanations, and translating the term may lead to more confusion than clarity.
“Whoever wants to find the wisdom beyond intellect without praying to his guru is like someone waiting for the sun to shine in a cave facing the north. He will never realize appearances and his mind to be one.”
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
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