BDK completes the Dirgha-agama in English

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Sentient Light
Posts: 374
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:40 pm
Location: San Francisco, California

BDK completes the Dirgha-agama in English

Post by Sentient Light »

As of today's release of volume III, the Dharmaguptaka Dirgha-agama is the first complete Agama to be translated into English: http://www.bdkamerica.org/book/canonica ... es-vol-iii

Stoked. I am really hoping to see a volume of the Ekottara to be released next (even though I'm positive it'll be another Madhyama volume), but realistically we're years away from that still.
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Sentient Light
Posts: 374
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:40 pm
Location: San Francisco, California

Re: BDK completes the Dirgha-agama in English

Post by Sentient Light »

An interesting passage that doesn't appear in the Pali version of the Brahma's Net:
“The Tathagata has directly experienced in the present life that the cause of birth and death has been exhausted. The only reason he continues to appear in this world is because of his resolution to help gods and humans realize the goal of nirvana. Without this great resolution, there would be no one upon whom gods and humans can rely as their refuge. In the case of a Buddha, because he has already extinguished the cause of life and birth, once he enters nirvana he will never again return to this world.” —Brahma’s Net Sutra, Dirgha Agama 21
This sounds a lot like a reference to bodhicitta to me (wouldn't be surprised if what is translated here as 'resolution' is more often translated as 'vow').

The text has quite a few differences from its Pali version, while maintaining the same overall structure. The lists that appear (of precepts and practices) vary considerably in content at times. Pretty interesting read.
:buddha1: Nam mô A di đà Phật :buddha1:
:bow: Nam mô Quan Thế Âm Bồ tát :bow:
:bow: Nam mô Đại Thế Chi Bồ Tát :bow:

:buddha1: Nam mô Bổn sư Thích ca mâu ni Phật :buddha1:
:bow: Nam mô Di lặc Bồ tát :bow:
:bow: Nam mô Địa tạng vương Bồ tát :bow:
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