Author: Steven Collins
Translator: Steven Collins
Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 101
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8126012986
Description
‘Agganna Sutta’, part of Digha Nikaya, is one of the early texts of Buddhism. It has been a couple of English translations, if not more, since the 19th century. It was even referred to as the Buddhist ‘Book of Genesis’. Each translation presents the original text in a different shade. The present translation by Steven Collins, focuses its attention on the hidden realities of the text. He is also quite sensitive to the sheer poetic energy of the text; he has managed to capture the beauty of the cosmic imagery of the original without resorting to the easily available ‘poetic’ mode of translation. This text can be read as one of the important achievements of ancient Indian literature, where the binary opposition between literature and philosophical narrative collapses.
Contents
General Introduction
CHAPTER I
SOME REMARKS ON THE CONTEXT(S) OF AS
In world history: agrarian social order
In early Indian history: towns and small-scale polities
In early Indian cultural debater: competing hierarchical models
CHAPTER II
SOME REMARKS ON THE TEXT OF AS
Is the test as we have it a clumsy patchwork?
What is the nature of the ‘satire’ in AS
AS in relation to other early texts
Notes on the status of my interpretation
CHAPTER III
THE STORY OF ORIGINS, MONASTIC LIFE AND IDEALS, AND THE VINAYA
Individual verbal reminiscences of the Monastic Code (Vinaya)
The five impossible things
‘Making a store’: the Fall of Mankind and Vinaya Infractions
CHAPTER IV
THE STRUCTURE OF AS AND KEYWORDS
Notes to the Introduction
End Notes
Translation
Introduction
The Discourse on What is Primary
Notes to the Translation
Abbreviations
Appendix 1: On the Word Mahasammata
Appendix 2: Is there a ‘Social Contract’ in AS?
Bibliography