Maybe I am confused here, but what are the differences? Are there any between the different Asian countries?
The reason I specifically ask is that I noticed that a translation of the Brahamajala Sutta found here, http://web.ukonline.co.uk/theravada/brahma2.htm#10 differed in other translations on the listing of the metaphysical questions that the eel-wigglers equivicated on:
Now in this passage there is the use of "life" as in "whether there is life after death." All the other English translations I have seen have instead the "Tathagata." I have checked in Pali some of the recensions of the Pali Canon in the Roman script, and they all appear to have "Tathagata." I maybe thought the translator made a mistake but there is a note (1) that says:whether it is that a good or a bad kamma produces results, and also does not produce results.....
whether it is not that a good or a bad kamma produces results, and also does not produce results.....
whether there is life after death1..... whether there is no life after death.....
whether there is life as well as no life after death.....
whether it is not that there is life as well as no life after death, and if I took it that it is not that there is life as well as no life after death
This seems to me that the translator had read "satta" (sentient) being rather than Tathagata who is a specialized sentient being.1. Literally, whether a sentient beiug exists after death...
Can anyone shine any light on this discrepency? Is there recensions of the Pali Canon that sometimes deviate in the usage of Pali words?
Thanks,
DarkDream