I have heard that one individual has been translating the Milindapanha into Greek but I have not seen it. I would like it very much if we could have a liturgy and set of texts in Koine Greek and Latin.
There is a translation of the Dhammapada into Latin:
https://suttacentral.net/dhp1-20/la/fausboell
There are no Greek translations, modern or otherwise, on SuttaCentral.
The first thought I had when I read this headline wasâŚ
âWell, thereâs an interesting question⌠Given that the Greeks were interacting with the Buddhists in India for sure from at least the time of Ashoka, how come there are no copies of the Buddhist texts in Greek similar to the chinese agamas?â
Given the contemporary absence of greek translations on SC, the greeks are probably still not interested enough in the Dhamma!
This Greek was.
From another paper:
The marble statue dates c. 90-140 AD. Next to the marble Buddha statue excavations also documented an inscription in Brahmi script/Sanskrit language and Greek of the mid third-century ADâŚThe inscription itself was about 0.31 m high with three lines in Brahmi/Sanskrit while the Greek consisted of a single line at the bottom of the block and traces of lettering on the top of the stone (c. fve poorly preserved characters). The Sanskrit text can be described as a dedication, likely to Buddha, made by a Kshatriya named Vasula, âon this dayâ (details mostly lost) for the well-being and welfare of everyone including his father and mother (Pl. XXIII 1-2). The single Greek line at the bottom, which had extant letters measuring c. 2.5 cm high, briefy recorded the dedicantâ s name. It is unclear if the Greek at the top was integral to the inscription or a later grafto.
Apologies (sort of), @Aahan, for going off-topic here. Still, it begs the question why the Koine Greek at least hasnât been done yet. I can understand the Latin not being done.
You know, I canât even grok there being nothing in Latin come to think of it! Christianity came to India in 52AD via St Thomas, a direct disciple of Jesus. And nothing, nadaâŚwent the other way??
To (sort of) apologize for hijacking your thread, perhaps I can offer you the Karaniya Metta sutta in modern greek? (free ebook, registration required). Its from theravada.gr ⌠they might perhaps be able to help out with your original question too!
Iâm now kinda inspired to start to translate some of the Suttas into Classical Greek. I know at best a smattering of Pali and a smattering plus a dollop of Classical Greek. But what a way to study both.
And on the outside chance I actually get good at it a real niche skill.
The idea is that, if you want to really spread the Dhamma into the West. It has to syncretise with and absorb aspects of other religious traditions that exist over here. That includes making use of western liturgical languages.
Roman Catholics donât use Latin in the Mass anymore. No schools in the US even offer Latin as an optional course except some Catholic high schools. The mainstream Christians donât seem to want liturgical expressions. The path for convert Buddhists is through yoga or secular mindfulness programs. Eventually â like the blind turtle poking its head through the yoke â someone might get beyond that.
But yours is a noble aspiration!
One path.
I do agree that Latin/Greek is not going to help anyone to convert to Buddhism. However a more religious presentation of Buddhism would appeal to the group of people that the secular approach misses.
I think the yoga side is the more religious presentation. The religious Westerners tend to gravitate towards Tibetan Buddhism: bells and smells as they say. And all those pretty, colorful banners, flags, and headgear. Prostrations and repentance rituals⌠Definitely at home for the converted Catholic.
One certainly wonders about the relationship between the concept of ataraxia (in Hellenism) and Nibbana.
As far as I know, in esoteric circles there have always been speculations about a common original dualist philosophical system (pessimistic cosmology) originating in Egypt or the lost city of Atlantis. I believe there is even something in Plato and Herodot (on Solon the wise one).
The more ancient a writing, the more authoritative it is. I find that a peculiar view. Something ist either true or not - a snippet in todayâs newspaper or your 4-year-oldâs ramblings as much as the content of ancient papyri. If you can tell the reliabilty and helpfulness of the teaching from your practice, the question of origin becomes secondary IMO.
I would like to bring back Greco-Buddhism, yes.
This article talks about a Vietnamese Pure Land temple being a hit with former Catholics in Texas. They seem especially impressed by Guanyinâs compassionate (worldly) miracles.