DooDoot wrote: ↑Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:16 pm
While I often disagree with VBBs footnotes & commentaries (which are often sectarian), for me, VBBs translations are the best available (although not perfect); translated with the most intregity & lack of ulterior sectarian agenda; far superior to Thanissaro or Sujato.
I tend to agree. Actually Bhante Sujato has also described Ven Bodhi's translations as the best available. I think that if they were freely available he wouldn't have felt such a strong need for his own translations. However, It's very useful to now have two complete translations of the first four Nikayas (Walsh/Nanamoli/Bodhi and Sujato), and selections from Ven Thanissaro to compare. And also Piya Tan's
http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/ analyses, which are probably at least as comprehensive as Thanissaro's.
What I like about Ven Bodhi's translations (and the numerous talks he has given on the MN in particular) is that he generally makes clear what is his opinion, what is the opinion of the commentators, and what is the opinion of others. So even where you might differ from his opinion, or that of the commentators, you have access to the information.
Bhante Sujato has a rather different approach with his translation project - to provide accessible, easy to read, unfootnoted, translations.
https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/wh ... notes/3169
https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/te ... tions/8310
Since Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations with extensive footnotes and cross-referencing are available for those interested in such details, this seems like a good approach - no point in reinventing the wheel...
Mike