Samiddhi Sutta

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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Coëmgenu
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Re: Samiddhi Sutta

Post by Coëmgenu »

asahi wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:57 am冲虚(至德)真经 is believes to be composed around 5 B.C. to 3 B.C. where its original title was《冲虚真经》and the author(s) is 列子 (Lie Zi) , his students and the later pupils / followers . In the year of 745 (C.E.) he ( i.e. 列子 Lie Zi) was conferred of the title 冲虚真人 meaning a contented tranquil True person or Immortal person whom already attained to the Dao / Tao .
The words 至德 (utmost virtue) was the title conferred in the years of northern song (dynasty) to this literary 冲虚真经 .
There's some debate around the dating of it. What do you say concerning the theories of those who date it to 400AD and say that it is written with archaic language intermixed with usages from the time period?
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
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Coëmgenu
Posts: 8150
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:55 pm
Location: Whitby, Canada

Re: Samiddhi Sutta

Post by Coëmgenu »

A version of the whole gāthā taking into mind the contributions of the numerous posters that have added feedback and the Bingenheimer translation etc. People of course can object and this is hardly an infallible rendering:

名色中生相  
謂為真實有
當知如斯人 
是名屬死徑
若識於名色 
本空無有性
是名尊敬佛
永離於諸趣

Amidst nāmarūpa, there arise the nimittas
called "true" [or "substantial"] existence.
You should know that such a person [who calls them that]
is [himself] called "on death's path."
If you perceive in nāmarūpa
root-emptiness and the essence of nonexistence [or "the nonexistent essences"]
this is called "respecting the Buddha"
and "eternally free from all destinations."

This rendering has 相 refer to "signs/marks" in the sense of nimittas (sabbanimitta).
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
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