04/12/23 Wien, July 6-9, 2009, Spirituality 1

The Dhammapada

Wien, Austria

July 6-9, 2009

THE BETRAYAL OF BUDDHIST CONCEPTS IN ENGLISH,

EKNATH EASWARAN’S «TRANSLATION»

Dr Jacques COULARDEAUdondaine@orange.fr

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Table of Contents

3. Verse 277 Aniccā

4. Verse 278 Dukkhā

5. Verse 279 Anattā

6. The radical ternary tensor of Buddhism

7. Another reversal: beyond dhamma

8. The states of being, becoming, having

9. Transfer of « ownership »: give versus take

10.Preterite Participle in -tvā (verses 294-295)

11.Syncretic syntax (Verse 364)

12.Representation

13.Stylistics: Verses 212-216 (A)

14.Stylistics: Verses 212-216 (B)

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Verse 277Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā’ti

yadā paññāya passatiAtha nibbindati dukkhe

esa maggo visuddhiyā

Narada ’s translation: TRANSIENT ARE CONDITIONED THINGS

Transient are all conditioned things: [Note on “saṅkhārā”]

When this, with wisdom, one discerns,

Then is one disgusted with ill; [Note on “dukkhe”, plural accusative of “dukkha”]

This is the path to purity.

Eknath Easwaran ’s translation: All created things are transitory; Those who realize this are free

from suffering. This is the path that leads to pure

wisdom.

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Verse 278

Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā’tiyadā paññāya passati

Atha nibbindati dukkheesa maggo visuddhiyā

Narada ’s translation:SORROWFUL ARE ALL

CONDITIONED THINGSSorrowful are all conditioned

things:When this , with wisdom, one

discerns,Then is one disgusted with ill; This is the path of purity.

Eknath Easwaran ’s translation: All created beings are involved in

sorrow;Those who realize this are freed

from suffering.This is the path that leads to pure

wisdom.

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Verse 279Sabbe dhammā anattā’ti

yadā paññāya passatiAtha nibbindati dukkhe

esa maggo visuddhiyā

Narada ’s translation:EVERYTHING IS SOULLESSAll dhammas are without a soul:

[Note on “aniccā”, “dukkhā”, “anattā”, “saṅkhārā” and “dhamma”]

When this, with wisdom, one discerns,

Then is one disgusted with ill;This is the path to purity.

Eknath Easwaran ’s translation: All states are without self;Those who realize this are freed

from suffering.This is the path that leads to pure

wisdom.

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The radical ternary (« binary ») tensor of Buddhism

The Natural state The searching mind Nibbāna

vajja: wrong beliefpāpa: evillobha: attachmentdosa: ill will (hatred)moha; delusionthe three immoral rootstaṇhā: craving, attachmentkāmataṇhā: craving for sensuous pleasuresbhavataṇhā: craving for rebirthvibhavataṇhā: craving for no rebirthrāga: lust (Narada, Easwaran)dosa: hate (Narada, Easwaran)moha: delusion (N) infatuation (E)taṇhā: craving (N) greed (E)kāmataṇhā: craving for sensuous pleasuresrūpataṇṇhā: craving for the Realms of Formsarūpataṇhā: craving for the Formless Realms

avajja: right beliefalobha: generosityadosa: goodwill (loving kindness)amoha: wisdomthe three Ø moral rootsTisarana: The three refuges: Buddha: teacherDhamma: teachingSangha: taughtThe Triple Gem

sīla: moralityguṇa: virtuepaññā: wisdompuñña: meritdhamma : righteousnessthe five powers of Buddhasukha: happiness, bliss

LINGUISTICALLY POSITIVE ELEMENTS

> 0LINGUISTICALLY NEGATIVE ELEMENTS

< 0BUT LINGUISTIVALLY POSITIVE

REFUGES (THOUGH A REFUGE IS THE NEGATION OF THE HOSTILE

OUTSIDE WORLD) > 0

LINGUISTICALLY POSITIVE ELEMENTS

> 0

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Another reversal: beyond dhamma

verses 242-248. The first element is “pāpakā dhammā”. Adjective nominative plural + nominative plural

noun.

verse 248 “pāpadhammā asaññatā

Mā taṁ lobho adhammo ca”Note this time the compound “pāpadhammā”, the evil universe (all things conditioned, plural), which is quite

representative of the first element of the ternary tensor we spoke of before; “asaññatā”: negative prefix a- + “saññatā”, plural nominative, past participle of “saŋ” +

“yam”, “drawn together”, “restrained”.“Mā”: prohibition particle.“taṁ”: accusative of demonstrative“lobho adhammo ca”: nominative of “lobha”, “greed” + nominative of “adhamma” [negative

prefix a- + “dhamma”, “le savoir”] “haine” + coordinator.Narada’s translation is: “’Not easy of restraint are evil things’. Let not greed and

wickedness…” Eknath Easwaran’s translation is: “Any indiscipline brings evil in its wake. Know this, and

do not let greed and vice …”

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The states of being, becoming and having

• “Balavā puriso” • “puriso balavā” • “puriso balavā hoti” • “purisassa balo hoti” • “balasampanno puriso” Phrase equivalences• 18) a) “Balavā puriso” 'strong man' ≡ “parisassa balo

hoti” 'the man has strength' ≡ “balasampanno puriso” 'a man possessing strength'

• 18) b) “Puriso balavā” 'the man [is] strong' ≡ “puriso balavā hoti” 'the man is strong' (Elizarenkova, 1976, 137)

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Transfer of « ownership »: give vs take

• “Tassa (ratanāni) bhavanti” • “so (ratana)pati” • “Purisassa dadāti” • puriso ādadāti” • verse 249 “dadāti”

“Dadāti ve yathāsaddhaṁyathāpasādanaṁ jano”

• verses 356-359“Tasmā hi vītarāgesu

dinnaṁ hoti mahapphalaṁ.” • “dinnaṁ”: accusative of past participle of “dadāti”, with all

meanings of “dadāti”, especially that of “giving alms”.

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The “preterite participle” or “gerund” in –tvā (Verses 294-295)

“Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvāRājāno dve ca khattiye

Raṭṭhaṁ sānucaraṁ hantvāAnīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.

Mātaraṁ pitaraṁ hantvāRājāno dve ca sottiye

Veyyagghapañcamaṁ hantvāAnīgho yāti brāhmaṇo.

Narada’s translation: “Having slain mother (craving) and father (conceit) and two warrior kings (views based on eternalism and nihilism), and having destroyed a country (sense-avenues and sense-objects) together with its revenue officer (attachment), ungrieving goes the Brāhmana (Arahant). Having slain mother and father and two Brahmin kings, and having destroyed the perilous path (hindrances), ungrieving goes the Brāhmana (Arahant).”

Eknath Easwaran’s translation: “Kill mother lust and father self-will, kill the kings of carnal passions, and you will be freed from sin. The true Brahmin has killed mother lust and father self-will; he has killed the kings of carnal passions, and the ego that obstructs him on the path . He is freed from sin.”

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Syncretic Syntax: verse 364

Dhammārāmo dhammaratodhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ

Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ bhikkhuSaddhammā na parihāyati.

Narada’s translation: “That bhikkhu who dwells in the Dhamma, who delights in the Dhamma, who meditates on the Dhamma, who well remembers the Dhamma, does not fall away from the sublime Dhamma.”

Eknath Easwaran’s translation: “He is a true bhikkhu who follows the dharma, meditates on the dharma, rejoices in the dharma, and therefore never falls away from the dharma.”

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Representation

VERB: na parihāyati

SUBJECT: bhikkhu

Apposed subject 1: Dhammārāmo

Apposed subject 2: dhammarato

Object 1: double accusative: dhammaṁ anuvicintayaṁ

Object 2: double accusative: Dhammaṁ anussaraṁ

Predicative complement: Saddhammā

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Stylistics: Verses 212-216 (A)

Piyato jāyati sokopiyato jāyati bhayaṁ

Piyato vippamuttassanatthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

Pemato jāyati sokopemato jāyati bhayaṁ

Pemato vippamuttassanatthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

Ratiya jāyati sokoratiyā jāyati bhayaṁ

Ratiyā vippamuttassanatthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

Narada’s translation: “From endearment springs grief, from endearment springs fear; for him who is wholly free from endearment there is no grief, much less fear. From affection springs grief, from affection springs fear; for him who is wholly free from affection there is no grief, much less fear. From attachment springs grief, from attachment springs fear; for him who is wholly free from attachment there is no grief, much less fear.”

Eknath Easwaran’s translation: “Selfish attachment brings suffering; selfish attachment brings fear. Be detached, and you will be free from suffering and fear. Selfish bonds cause grief; selfish bonds cause fear. Be unselfish, and you will be free from grief and fear. Selfish enjoyments lead to frustration; selfish enjoyments lead to fear? Be unselfish, and you will be free from frustration and fear.”

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Stylistics: Verses 212-216 (B)

Kāmato jāyati sokokāmato jāyati bhayaṁ

Kāmato vippamuttassanatthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

Taṇhāya jāyati sokotaṇhāya jāyati bhayaṁ

Taṇhāya vippamuttassanatthi soko kuto bhayaṁ.

Narada’s translation: “From lust springs grief, from lust springs fear; for him who is wholly free from lust there is no grief, much less fear. From craving springs grief, from craving springs fear; for him who is wholly free from craving there is no grief, much less fear.”

Eknath Easwaran’s translation: “Selfish desires give rise to anxiety; selfish desires give rise to fear. Be unselfish, and you will be free from anxiety and fear. Craving brings pain; craving brings fear. Don’t yield to cravings, and you will be free from pain and fear.”