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Namo Sakyamuni Buddha
Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the West and
many countries around the world. There is an urgent need for the
translation of Buddhist sutras in English and other languages. Mahayana
sutras and other sacred texts have often been taken from the Chinese
Tripitaka that was mainly translated from Sanskrit by Great Masters and
Translators such as Kumārajīva and Xuanzang/Hsuan-Tsang. Only a few can
read and write traditional Chinese characters. Yet there are still too
many sutras that have not been translated. Members of The Tuệ Quang
Wisdom Light Foundation Inc. have been concerned about this issue
for the last several years. We recently have access to the original
texts in the Chinese Tripitaka from the Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association (CBETA)
and we are committed to translate them into Vietnamese, English and
other Western languages.
Based on our on-going experience with the Program for the Development of a
Vietnamese Tripitaka, the English Tripitaka is divided into
five stages:
1.
Develop computerized
techniques to transcribe and translate the Chinese Tripitaka into
English,
2.
Transcribe and translate
by computer the Chinese Tripitaka into English,
3.
Edit the
computer-translated files,
4.
Review and approval by
the Masters, and
5.
Publish through
conventional printing and electronic means.
The CBETA Tripitaka is based on the Taisho Tripitaka and
composed of 2372 sutras, vinayas (precepts) and sastras (commentaries)
that have been organized into 56 volumes (volumes 1-55 and 85). Due to
this large number of sacred texts, we have spent considerable efforts
in developing computerized techniques for translating them. Please
refer to Computer Translation of the Taisho Tripitaka
and CBETA Taisho
Index for more details. With this Website, we will provide the
sutras and other sacred texts in both original Chinese and translated
languages such as English and French. The text files are in Unicode
(UTF8). compatible with MS-Word and have the unique feature of
displaying both the original Chinese characters and the translations in
English, French and Vietnamese. Please read through the sample
translations of the Amitabha Sutra and the Diamond Sutra.
Buddhist texts are difficult to read and comprehend
because there are numerous Chinese-Sanskrit terms and expressions with
Buddhist-specific meanings. To assist the sutra reader, we have
developed a Buddhist Multimedia Dictionary that provides explanations
as well as photos and video links. These videos present Dharma talks
from well-known Masters and other documentaries. Please try our new Sutra
Reading with Buddhist Multimedia Dictionary 
At the present time, we have completed the computer
translation (Stage 2 of Program) of all sacred texts in the Chinese
Tripitaka (over 70 million words in 9035 fascicles/files). All
2372 sutras in the Chinese Tripitaka have been translated by computer
in about 10 days. Please read through the sample translations of
the Amitabha Sutra and the Diamond Sutra below. These short
sutras have been translated in less than 60 seconds. Larger sutras such
as the Lotus Sutra (7 fascicles) in 14 minutes, the Avatamsaka Sutra
(80 fascicles) in 116 minutes, Great Prajnaparamita Sastra (100
fascicles) in 17 minutes and Great Prajna Sutra (600 fascicles) in 50
minutes.
We are contacting Masters and experts, both in the USA
and overseas, to start the editing (Stage 3 of Program) and
review of these files (Stage 4 of Program). The editing and review
phases will occur over the next 10 years.
With our unique computer translation software, the
time requited for translating the Tripitaka is reduced from decades or
even centuries if done manually to a few short years!
Following its development, we hope to distribute it widely and for free
through modern electronic means such as the Internet and CD/DVD.
Our efforts only represent small contributions towards
the establishment of a English Tripitaka. We hope to receive guidance,
assistance, cooperation and ideas from the Masters, respected authors
and other Buddhists so that the English Tripitaka will soon be
successfully completed and available for free to the general public so
that "whoever sees the Dharma will see me" as the Buddha
had said.
TUE QUANG
WISDOM LIGHT FOUNDATION
WHAT'S NEW?
Proposal for an International Conference on
Religious Conversion
Program
to Translate Taisho Tripitaka into English & Other Western
Languages
Selected Writings on
Religious Conversion (Vietnamese/English)
Sutra
Reading with Buddhist Multimedia Dictionary
Buddhist
Declaration on Climate Change
A Buddhist Perspective on Global Warming
Press Conference in July 2006 at the Vietnamese
Buddhist Research Institute (Buddhist Channel TV)
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