This month the remainder of Chapter 10 of the Ekottarika Āgama (EĀ) was released at Dharma Pearls. Chapter 10 is a set of ten sūtras that revolve around themes of making merit, especially through generosity. This group of sutras, whose subject is often perceived as primarily a concern for lay Buddhists, are directed at both … Continue reading Ekottarika Āgama, Book of Ones, Chapter 10
Week 13 Update
Hello, again! I hope everyone has had an excellent couple of weeks. Here in California, we have nearly completed our exit from the extreme drought of the past few years. It's really an amazing turnaround. These erratic and extreme weather patterns remind me of the extreme weather the world suffered during the Little Ice Age … Continue reading Week 13 Update
Week 11 Update: Editing, Coding, and Uncertainty
Hello, again, from southern California, where we are gearing up for more rain. The drought is officially over in many parts of the state, which really was in the nick of time. There haven't been any new releases this week. Instead, my time has been devoted to editing and researching translations that have already been … Continue reading Week 11 Update: Editing, Coding, and Uncertainty
Week 10 Update: EĀ Chapters 2-3, 8-9 Released
It's been two months since I posted an update! Time flies sometimes. I will be making an effort to set aside time to blog more frequently in the future. I'm going to shoot for a post once a week, perhaps more. (Which means once a week or biweekly, probably.) The heavenly messengers of birth, illness, … Continue reading Week 10 Update: EĀ Chapters 2-3, 8-9 Released
Week 1 Update: EĀ Ch. 1 Released!
Hello, Everyone! Welcome to a New Year. 2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit in East Asia, which is good, I suppose. Good-natured, adaptable, intelligent people — yes, the world needs more of them to take the wheel. Good-natured people, especially. The past two months have been a test period for a new translation … Continue reading Week 1 Update: EĀ Ch. 1 Released!
The Ekôttarika Āgama Project Begins
Tomorrow will be the official start of the Ekôttarika Āgama translation project at Dharma Pearls. This project is expected to take approximately two years to complete a well edited release, though actual time is dependent at how difficult the material turns out to be. I will be shooting for a process that translates around five … Continue reading The Ekôttarika Āgama Project Begins
A Look at DĀ 1: Buddhas, Brahmins—and Bodhisattvas
This week, I want to begin a series of blog posts that take a look at selections from the Dīrgha Āgama, both in their own light and that of parallels that exist. These posts won't be in-depth essays or particularly technical; rather, I'll introduce a particular sūtra and attempt to draw out a few issues … Continue reading A Look at DĀ 1: Buddhas, Brahmins—and Bodhisattvas
Heat Waves, Data Entry, and Meta-Editing
This summer has been quite an experience for much of the world. Floods, droughts, and a creeping suspicion turned sudden realization: The World is changing, and humans are but bits of flotsam when the raging currents of that change arrive. Yes, it's true: We aren't as collectively invulnerable and omnipotent as we imagined a couple … Continue reading Heat Waves, Data Entry, and Meta-Editing
July Update: Remainder of DĀ 30 Released
This month, I released the initial translations of DĀ 30's chapters 8-12. This would also complete the Dīrgha Āgama except for DĀ 19, which will be delayed another month before it's ready for release. With the completion of the rest of DĀ, I'll be taking two or three months to work on polishing existing translations, … Continue reading July Update: Remainder of DĀ 30 Released
June Update: First Half of DĀ 30 Released
The editing of the Description of the World Sūtra (DĀ 30) continues, but I've released Chapters 1-7 of this large, multi-chapter sūtra that collects Buddhist cosmology and mythology into a single large text. This version that's found in the Dīrgha Āgama (DĀ) is one of four Chinese translations of this sūtra which are dated between … Continue reading June Update: First Half of DĀ 30 Released