Best translation of the DN?

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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Lombardi4
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Best translation of the DN?

Post by Lombardi4 »

Simple question: Is there a better English translation than the popular Maurice Walshe translation of the Dīgha Nikāya that for some reason I haven't heard of? Just curious; Walshe's is good. I like Bhikkhu Bodhi's translations the most and wish he had translated this nikāya as well. Maybe Bhante Sujato will soon publish his (if I heard correctly, he's already translated all four nikāyas).
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retrofuturist
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Re: Best translation of the DN?

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings Stiphan,

My take, like yours, is that Walshe's translation is good.

In relation to the DN, I think "good" is adequate given that there's very little, if anything, in the DN which isn't already covered elsewhere.

If Bhikkhu Bodhi translated DN, I don't think I would bother to seek out his translation, despite regarding him as a better translator than Walshe.

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Dhammarakkhito
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Re: Best translation of the DN?

Post by Dhammarakkhito »

where are u getting the walshe translation
i try to read my suttas on suttacentral but accesstoinsight is fine too. really it would be better to learn pāli because it seems like the concepts are sometimes incoherent for lack of expression in english
buddha-vacana.org is really good because it has the pāli alongside, and also ancient-buddhist-texts.net
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Lombardi4
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Re: Best translation of the DN?

Post by Lombardi4 »

Sovatthika wrote: Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:14 am where are u getting the walshe translation
i try to read my suttas on suttacentral but accesstoinsight is fine too. really it would be better to learn pāli because it seems like the concepts are sometimes incoherent for lack of expression in english
buddha-vacana.org is really good because it has the pāli alongside, and also ancient-buddhist-texts.net
https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... dhisttexts

I got the Android app from here, though I also have the same set of texts as HTML files on my laptop, which if I remember correctly, downloaded from another site. It includes the four nikāyas, Dhammapada commentary, Jataka commentary and the Visuddhimagga -- all in Pāḷi and English.

I start learning Pāḷi from January 1!
Lombardi4
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Re: Best translation of the DN?

Post by Lombardi4 »

I downloaded Rhys Davids' translation as well.
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