Latest 84K Sutra

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
Nicholas Weeks
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Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

http://read.84000.co/translation/toh247.html
SUMMARY

There are two main themes in Distinguishing Phenomena and What Is Meaningful. One is in the narrative structure: Buddha Śākyamuni tells how, countless eons ago, in a world called Flower Origin, a buddha named Arisen from Flowers gave instructions to a royal family, and prophesied the awakening of the prince Ratnākara. Arisen from Flowers, Buddha Śākyamuni then relates, has since become the buddha Amitābha, and the prince Ratnākara the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. The other theme is doctrinal, and lies in the content of the teaching given by Arisen from Flowers: it explains the four mistakes made by ordinary beings in the way they perceive the five aggregates, and how bodhisattvas teach them how to clear away these misconceptions, so that they may be free of the sufferings that result.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

From the Introduction:
The sūtra thus presents a version of the well–known “four errors” (catvāro viparyāsāḥ, phyin ci log pa bzhi), often described in Buddhist canonical literature as the main underpinnings of sentient beings’ mistaken view of the world: erroneously perceiving (1) the impermanent to be permanent, (2) the painful to be pleasant, (3) the dirty to be clean, and (4) what has no self to have a self. ...

The present sūtra invokes the four errors, but instead of presenting the illusion that the painful is pleasant, it speaks of the illusion that the repulsive (mi sdug pa) is beautiful (sdug pa). Aside from this minor twist, the context remains that of the usual four errors.
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

http://84000.co/new-publication-the-que ... ṣemaṅkara/
The Question of Kṣemaṅkara contains a teaching given by Buddha Śākyamuni to the Śākya youth Kṣemaṅkara, in response to a question he poses about the qualities of bodhisattvas and how to develop such qualities. The Buddha teaches him about bodhisattvas’ qualities, first in prose and later reiterated in verse, and then equates the teaching of this sūtra with the perfection of insight, stating that even if one practices the first five perfections for many eons, one will not make much progress without knowing what is taught in this sūtra.
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The Miraculous Play of Mañjuśrī presents a series of profound teachings within a
rich narrative structure involving a beautiful courtesan’s daughter,
Suvarṇottama prabhāśrī. A banker’s son has purchased her favors, but while they
are riding together toward a pleasure garden the girl’s attention is captivated
instead by the radiantly attractive Mañjuśrī, who gives her instructions related to
the meaning of the mind set on awakening. She then expresses her new
understanding in a dialogue with Mañjuśrī, in the presence of King Ajātaśatru,
his retinue, and the citizens of Rājagṛha. Meanwhile the banker’s son, with the
help of Mañjuśrī and Śakra, experiences his own realization and receives
teaching from the Buddha himself. The sūtra deals with well-known Mahāyāna
themes, but places special emphasis on the emptiness and sameness of all
phenomena.
https://read.84000.co/translation/toh96.html
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The 100 Karmas is the newest, an avadāna sutra. This version does not have the normal pdf option. Whether this will be the pattern for future or not, I do not know.

https://read.84000.co/translation/toh340.html
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avatamsaka3
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by avatamsaka3 »

It has a PDF now. 600+ pages.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

dolphin_color wrote: Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:37 am It has a PDF now. 600+ pages.
Excellent - just an oversight I guess.
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Caoimhghín
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Caoimhghín »

Nicholas Weeks wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:26 am http://read.84000.co/translation/toh247.html
SUMMARY

[...] Arisen from Flowers, Buddha Śākyamuni then relates, has since become the buddha Amitābha, and the prince Ratnākara the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. [...]
I wonder why Arisen-from-flowers Buddha had his name changed from that to Amitābha. Usually when that happens, it's because a bodhisattva is given a new name upon Buddhahood.
Then, the monks uttered this gāthā:

These bodies are like foam.
Them being frail, who can rejoice in them?
The Buddha attained the vajra-body.
Still, it becomes inconstant and ruined.
The many Buddhas are vajra-entities.
All are also subject to inconstancy.
Quickly ended, like melting snow --
how could things be different?

The Buddha passed into parinirvāṇa afterward.
(T1.27b10 Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra DĀ 2)
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DewachenVagabond
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by DewachenVagabond »

Caoimhghín wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:20 am
Nicholas Weeks wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:26 am http://read.84000.co/translation/toh247.html
SUMMARY

[...] Arisen from Flowers, Buddha Śākyamuni then relates, has since become the buddha Amitābha, and the prince Ratnākara the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. [...]
I wonder why Arisen-from-flowers Buddha had his name changed from that to Amitābha. Usually when that happens, it's because a bodhisattva is given a new name upon Buddhahood.
We speculated on this a bit on /r/pureland. Animus seemed to have a good explanation for it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/PureLand/comme ... confidence
:bow: :buddha1: :bow: :anjali: :meditate:
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Caoimhghín wrote: Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:20 am
Nicholas Weeks wrote: Sun Aug 04, 2019 1:26 am http://read.84000.co/translation/toh247.html
SUMMARY

[...] Arisen from Flowers, Buddha Śākyamuni then relates, has since become the buddha Amitābha, and the prince Ratnākara the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. [...]
I wonder why Arisen-from-flowers Buddha had his name changed from that to Amitābha. Usually when that happens, it's because a bodhisattva is given a new name upon Buddhahood.
In a different world or realm, then a new name.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The Nectar of Speech came out last month:
In this sūtra, in answer to a question put by Maitreya, the Buddha Śākyamuni
teaches five qualities that bodhisattvas should have in order to live a long life
free of obstacles and attain awakening quickly: (1) giving the Dharma; (2)
giving freedom from fear; (3) practicing great loving kindness, great
compassion, great joy, and great equanimity; (4) repairing dilapidated stūpas;
and (5) causing all beings to aspire to the mind of awakening. Maitreya praises
the benefits of this teaching and vows to teach it himself in future degenerate
times. Both Maitreya and the Buddha emphasize the positive effects on beings
and the environment that upholding, preserving, and teaching The Nectar of
Speech
will bring about.
https://read.84000.co/translation/toh197.html
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

This Mahāsūtra is designed stop epidemics & collective illnesses:

https://read.84000.co/translation/toh312.html
The translation is an extract from a translation of the Bhaiṣajyavastu (“The
Chapter on Medicines,” the sixth chapter of the Vinayavastu, Toh 1)
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

On Wesak another splendid free sutra, Proper Dharma Conduct:

https://read.84000.co/translation/toh244.html
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutras

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

As one can see, in April and May many new translations are available:

https://read.84000.co/section/all-translated.html
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Losal Samten
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Losal Samten »

The Eight Buddhas
Aṣṭabuddhaka
Summary wrote:While the Buddha is dwelling together with a great saṅgha of monks in Śrāvastī, at the garden of Anāthapiṇḍada in the Jeta Grove, the whole universe suddenly begins to shake. The sounds of innumerable cymbals are heard without their being played, and flowers fall, covering the entire Jeta Grove. The world becomes filled with golden light and golden lotuses appear, each lotus supporting a lion throne upon which appears the shining form of a buddha. Venerable Śāriputra arises from his seat, pays homage, and asks the Buddha about the causes and conditions for these thus-gone ones to appear. The Buddha then proceeds to describe in detail these buddhas, as well as their various realms and how beings can take birth in them.
Introduction wrote:Following this, the Buddha teaches Śāriputra how hearing, remembering, carrying, reading, teaching, chanting, and mastering the names of these buddhas will produce a great number of benefits for the practitioner. Śāriputra is told that these names have the capacity to ensure that practitioners will not be reborn in the three lower realms and that they will always have extraordinary knowledge, realization, and dhāraṇī. They will never have defective faculties, lack donations, or find themselves without the practices and discourses of the Mahāyāna. They will also no longer have to take birth as women unless they wish to do so, nor will they experience any misfortune caused by kings, thieves, fire, water, or evil spirits. Eventually, they will attain wisdom, which in turn will lead them to become buddhas themselves.
https://read.84000.co/translation/UT22084-068-005.html
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

For fans of Amita Buddha, here is a simple, powerful sutra for recitation & meditation:

https://read.84000.co/translation/toh679.html
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Here is a translation of the dharani from the above tiny sutra:
I pay homage to the Three Jewels. I pay homage to the thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha—the blessed Amitābha with the following: Oṃ infinite one who arises from the infinite, whose nature is infinite, whose stride is infinite, whose range is infinite, who grants renown vast as the sky, who brings an end to all the afflictions, svāhā.
I am unclear as to what 'stride' means, it sounds so similar to 'range' ?
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Malcolm
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Malcolm »

Nicholas Weeks wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:16 pm Here is a translation of the dharani from the above tiny sutra:
I pay homage to the Three Jewels. I pay homage to the thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha—the blessed Amitābha with the following: Oṃ infinite one who arises from the infinite, whose nature is infinite, whose stride is infinite, whose range is infinite, who grants renown vast as the sky, who brings an end to all the afflictions, svāhā.
I am unclear as to what 'stride' means, it sounds so similar to 'range' ?
Means "step," but probably means more like courage, etc.


1 vikrAnta mfn. stepped beyond , taking wide strides &c. ; courageous , bold , strong , mighty , victorious (with %{dhanuSi} , skilled in archery) MBh. ; m. a warrior L. ; a lion L. ; `" passed over "'N. of a kind of Sam2dhi which leaves Visarga unchanged RPra1t. ; N. of a Praja1-pati VP. ; of a son of Kuvalaya7s3va and Mada7lasa1 Ma1rkP. ; (%{A}) f. N. of various plants (Cocculus Cordifolius , Clitoria Ternatea , Cissus Pedata &c.) L. ; n. a step , stride VS. TBr. ; manner of walking , gait MBh. R. ; bold advance , courage , might ib. ; a sham diamond L. ; a kind of intoxicating drink L. ; %{-gati} m. a man with a portly gait MW. ; %{-bhIma}N. of a drama ; %{-yodhin} m. an excellent warrior MBh. ; %{-zUdraka}N. of a drama Sarasv.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Latest 84K Sutra

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Malcolm wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 5:57 pm
Nicholas Weeks wrote: Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:16 pm Here is a translation of the dharani from the above tiny sutra:
I pay homage to the Three Jewels. I pay homage to the thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha—the blessed Amitābha with the following: Oṃ infinite one who arises from the infinite, whose nature is infinite, whose stride is infinite, whose range is infinite, who grants renown vast as the sky, who brings an end to all the afflictions, svāhā.
I am unclear as to what 'stride' means, it sounds so similar to 'range' ?
Means "step," but probably means more like courage, etc.


1 vikrAnta mfn. stepped beyond , taking wide strides &c. ; courageous , bold , strong , mighty , victorious (with %{dhanuSi} , skilled in archery) MBh. ; m. a warrior L. ; a lion L. ; `" passed over "'N. of a kind of Sam2dhi which leaves Visarga unchanged RPra1t. ; N. of a Praja1-pati VP. ; of a son of Kuvalaya7s3va and Mada7lasa1 Ma1rkP. ; (%{A}) f. N. of various plants (Cocculus Cordifolius , Clitoria Ternatea , Cissus Pedata &c.) L. ; n. a step , stride VS. TBr. ; manner of walking , gait MBh. R. ; bold advance , courage , might ib. ; a sham diamond L. ; a kind of intoxicating drink L. ; %{-gati} m. a man with a portly gait MW. ; %{-bhIma}N. of a drama ; %{-yodhin} m. an excellent warrior MBh. ; %{-zUdraka}N. of a drama Sarasv.
:bow: Malcolm - bold or courageous makes more sense!
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