French Translations

[Onze]

@sabbamitta

We also tried to get a contact years ago, without success. Even the publisher who first published his translations of whole Nikayas (I think he did DN and MN, I don’t have them any more, and my memory is sometimes week) stopped responding soon after they were released, and the books were nearly impossible to get. I haven’t followed up on that since then.

Thanks for trying, Ayya. I have a complete set of his DN. He also did SN entirely, which alas I can’t find. The publisher did promptly give me his email but did not respond to my request to buy SN directly from them as they can no longer be found in stores. I also have his two smaller anthologies from various Nikayas published in pocket format, they seem to be the only translations of the Nikayas available in French. Such a sad state of affairs! The french reader must make his or her way through quite a wilderness of Buddhism before perhaps ending up here…

[sabbamitta]

@Onze

Such a sad state of affairs! The french reader must make his or her way through quite a wilderness of Buddhism before perhaps ending up here…

That’s so true! I first encountered Buddhism in France and was quite amazed when I became aware of how much of the Suttas had already been translated into German!

But perhaps these discussions about French Sutta translations should go to a separate thread … @moderators can you help?

[trusolo]

I will split it into another thread.
Thanks for the suggestion Ayya!

[BethL]

@Onze

I also have his two smaller anthologies from various Nikayas published in pocket format, they seem to be the only translations of the Nikayas available in French.

Greetings, I am in the middle of indexing M. Wijayaratna’s translated suttas from the two smaller anthologies. Here is an example of my format:

MW SDB: A. I 187-191 (Kālāma-sutta)
AN 3.65 Kesamuttisutta
L’accès aux libres examens
With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta

• Where MW SDB = Sermons du Bouddha (the 2006 anthology)
• A. I 187-191 (Kālāma-sutta) = his reference to the PTS (first edition), usually different from SuttaCentral’s first edition references by 1 (not sure why); his pāli naming of the sutta
• L’accès aux libres examens = how he names the particular sutta (his own summation); he only provides these in the SDB
• AN 3.65 Kesamuttisutta = SuttaCentral’s identification of the sutta
• With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta = Ven. Sujato’s naming of the sutta

Would this index be of use to anyone (other than me )

[Onze]

Yes please!

Since then I’ve been able to acquire a set of his MN (he did not translate SN aside from some suttas in the anthologies, I was mistaken). Still haven’t heard back from him, alas, and doubt I ever will.

[BethL]

Dear all:

Môhan_Wijayaratna_Suttas_v1_2023.pdf (105.8 KB)

I have finished v1 of this list (referring to Môhan Wijayaratna’s 41 translated suttas). Please see attached. I am also including it in plain text below, without the footnotes, in case you want to work with it in other formats. Happy to work with you on errors, typos, questions, conundrums, etc.!

Suttapiṭaka French Translations by Môhan Wijayaratna in two works:
Les entretiens du Bouddha: La traduction intégrale de 21 textes du canon bouddhique (Éditions du Seuil, 2001)
Sermons du Bouddha: La traduction intégrale de 20 textes du canon bouddhique (Editions du Seuil, 2006)

MW EDB: D. I 111-126 (Sōṇadaṇḍa-sutta)
DN 4 Soṇadaṇḍasutta
With Soṇadaṇḍa

MW EDB: D. I 127-149 (Kūṭadanta-sutta)
DN 5 Kūṭadantasutta
With Kūṭadanta

MW SDB: D. I 235-253 (Tevijja-sutta)
DN 13 Tevijjasutta
Où sont les vrais brāhmanes?
The Three Knowledges

MW EDB: D. II 55-71 (Mahā-Nidāna-sutta)
DN 15 Mahānidānasutta
The Great Discourse on Causation

MW SDB: M. I 83-90 (Mahā-Dukkhakkandha-sutta)
MN 13 Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta
Un grand monceau de dukkha
The Longer Discourse on the Mass of Suffering

MW SDB. I 192-197 (Mahā-Sārōpama-sutta)
MN 29 Mahāsāropamasutta
Le cœur d’un grand arbre solide
The Longer Simile of the Heartwood

MW SDB: M. I 414-420 (Ambalaṭṭhikā-Rāhulōvāda-sutta)
MN 61 Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta
L’utilité de l’attention
Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhika

MW SDB: M. I 426-432 (Cūḷa-Māluṅkyā-sutta)
MN 63 Cūḷamālukyasutta
Les questions inutiles
The Shorter Discourse With Māluṅkya

MW EDB: M. II 106-112 (Piyajātika-sutta)
MN 87 Piyajātikasutta
Born From the Beloved

MW M. III 104-109 (Cūḷa-Suññata-sutta)
MN 121 Cūḷasuññatasutta
La vacuité
The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness

MW EDB: M. III 215-222 (Saḷāyatanavighaṇga-sutta)
MN 137 Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasutta
The Analysis of the Six Sense Fields

MW SDB: M. III 298-302 (Indriyabhāvanā-sutta)
MN 152 Indriyabhāvanāsutta
Le développement des facultés sensorielles
The Development of the Faculties

MW SDB: S. I 82-85 (Saṅgāma-sutta)
SN 3.14 Paṭhamasaṅgāmasutta, SN 3.15 Dutiyasaṅgāmasutta
La guerre et la paix
Battle (1st and 2nd)

MW SDB: S. I 91-92 (Aputtaka-sutta)
SN 3.20 Dutiyaaputtakasutta
La richesse chez l’avare
Childless (2nd)

MW SDB: S. I 100-102 (Pabbatūpama-sutta)
SN 3.25 Pabbatūpamasutta
La guerre pendant les avalanches
The Simile of the Mountain

MW EDB: S. II 16-17 (Kaccāyanagotta-sutta)
SN 12.15 Kaccānagottasutta
Kaccānagotta

MW SDB: S. II 16-19 (Acela-sutta)
SN 12.17 Acelakassapasutta
La coproduction conditionnée
With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic

MW EDB: S. II 25-26 (Bhāra-sutta)
SN 22.22 Bhārasutta
The Burden

MW EDB: S. II 94-95 (Assutavā-sutta)
SN 12.61 Assutavāsutta
Unlearned

MW EDB: S. II 104-107 (Nagara-sutta)
SN 12.65 Nagarasutta
The City

MW EDB: S. III 1-5 (Nakula-sutta)
SN 22.1 Nakulapitusutta
Nakula’s Father

MW EDB: S. III 14-18 (Upadhiparitassanā-sutta)
SN 22.7 Upādāparitassanāsutta
Anxiety Because of Grasping

MW SDB: S. III 66-67 (Anattalakkhaṇa-sutta)
SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇasutta
La doctrine de “Non-Soi”
The Characteristic of Not-Self

MW EDB: S. III 140-143 (Phena-sutta)
SN 22.95 Pheṇapiṇḍūpamasutta
A Lump of Foam

MW SDB: S. IV 19-20 (Ādittapariyāya-sutta)
SN 35.28 Ādittasutta
L’incendie
Burning

MW SDB: S. IV 179-181 (Dārukkhandha-sutta)
SN 35.241 Paṭhamadārukkhandhopamasutta
Un tronçon de bois
The Simile of the Tree Trunk (1st)

MW SDB: S. IV 230-231 (Sīvaka-sutta)
SN 36.21 Sīvakasutta
Les actions et leurs résultats
With Sīvaka

MW SDB: S. V 352-356 (Veḷudvāreyya-sutta)
SN 55.7 Veḷudvāreyyasutta
Les préceptes aux nobles
The People of Bamboo Gate

MW SDB: S. V 420-424 (Dhamma-Cakkappavattana-sutta)
SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattanasutta
Les quatre nobles verités
Rolling Forth the Wheel of Dhamma

MW SDB: A. I 187-191 (Kālāma-sutta)
AN 3.65 Kesamuttisutta
L’accès aux libres examens
With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta

MW EDB: A. II 172-174 (Jānussōni-sutta)
AN 4.184 Abhayasutta
Fearless

MW EDB: A. III 57 (Mallikā-sutta)
AN 5.48 Alabbhanīyaṭhānasutta
Situations
AN 5.49 Kōsala
Kosalasutta

MW SDB: A. III 57-59 (Verañjaka-sutta)
AN 4.53 Paṭhamasaṁvāsasutta
Les dieux et les déesses
Living Together (1st)

MW EDB: A. III 410-417 (Nibbedikapariyāya-sutta)
AN 6.63 Nibbedhikasutta
Penetrative

MW SDB: A. IV 41-46 (Aggi-sutta)
AN 7.47 Dutiyaaggisutta
Le principe de non-violence
Fires (2nd)

MW EDB: A. IV 179-187 (Sīha-sutta)
AN 8.12 Sīhasutta
With Sīha

MW EDB: A. IV 190-194 (Bhaddiya-sutta)
AN 4.193 Bhaddiyasutta
With Bhaddiya

MW EDB: A. IV 281-285 (Vyagghapajja-sutta)
AN 8.54 Dīghajāṇusutta
With Dīghajāṇu

MW EDB: A. V 185-189 (Anāthapiṇḍika-sutta)
AN 10.93 Kiṁdiṭṭhikasutta
What Is Your View?

MW EDB: A. V 193-195 (Uttiya-sutta)
AN 10.95 Uttiyasutta
With Uttiya

MW EDB: Ud. 47 (Kōsala-sutta)
Ud 5.1 Piyatarasutta
Who Is More Dear?

END

[BethL]

Alas, posting the list in the comment has already exposed a typo! Corrected now in the original post from a few minutes ago.

I will also maintain on my google cloud for version control. (Anyone can let me know if they would like access.)

v2 attached

Môhan_Wijayaratna_Suttas_v2_2023.pdf (105.9 KB)

@BethL

Happy to work with you on errors, typos, questions, conundrums, etc.!

[sabbamitta]

@BethL

Would this index be of use to anyone (other than me )

Oh! These are obviously different books than the ones I have. Would it be helpful for anyone to know what Suttas have been published in these (still older) books?

The books are:

• Au delà de la mort, Éditions LIS, Paris, 1996 (10 Suttas)
• Le dernier voyage du Bouddha, Éditions LIS, Paris, 1998 (1 Sutta)
• La philosophie du Bouddha, Éditions LIS, Paris, 2000 (10 Suttas)

[BethL]

Ven. @sabbamitta, yes, I think it would very helpful to know the other 21 suttas. (I didn’t realize those books contained translated suttas!) It’s a bit of an effort making the connection with references on SuttaCentral…I haven’t seen these on amazon.fr except as out-of-print copies (that are very expensive )

Let me know if there’s any support I can offer.
Beth

[Onze]

Thanks for your work, Beth, I’ll try to look them up.

That said, second one is obviously Mahaparinibbanasutta and I would be very surprised if the third volume contained anything that is not in the two published anthologies.

Cheers,

Julien

[sabbamitta]

@BethL

yes, I think it would very helpful to know the other 21 suttas

Well then … take this for today:

Au delà de la mort

1. Maraṇabhaya-Sutta (A. II, 173-176): AN 4.184 Abhayasutta, Fearless
2. Dīghāvu-Sutta (S. V, 344-346): SN 55.3 Dīghāvuupāsakasutta, With Dīghāvu
3. Sarakāni-Sutta (S. V, 375-377): SN 55.24 Paṭhamasaraṇānisakkasutta, About Sarakāni (1st)
4. Gilāna-Sutta (S. V, 408-410): SN 55.54 Gilānasutta, Sick
5. Visākhā-Sutta (Ud. 91-92): Ud 8.8 Visākhāsutta, With Visākhā
6. Migasālā-Sutta (A. V, 137-144): AN 10.75 Migasālāsutta, With Migasālā
7. Cūḷa-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta (M. III, 202-206): MN 135 Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta, The Shorter Analysis of Deeds
8. Mahā-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta (M. III, 207-215): MN 136 Mahākammavibhaṅgasutta, The Longer Analysis of Deeds
9. Sīvaka-Sutta (S. IV, 230-231): SN 36.21 Sīvakasutta, With Sīvaka
10. Bāhiya-Sutta (Ud. 6-9): Ud 1.10 Bāhiyasutta, With Bāhiya

Le dernier voyage du Bouddha

This is of course about the Mahāparinibbānasutta, DN 16.

[BethL]

@sabbamitta

Le dernier voyage du Bouddha, Éditions LIS, Paris, 1998

Great, we’re up to 50

See below (and attached) for revised list (v3):

Môhan_Wijayaratna_Suttas_v3_2023.pdf (105.5 KB)

MW EDB: D. I 111-126 (Sōṇadaṇḍa-sutta)
DN 4 Soṇadaṇḍasutta
With Soṇadaṇḍa

MW EDB: D. I 127-149 (Kūṭadanta-sutta)
DN 5 Kūṭadantasutta
With Kūṭadanta

MW SDB: D. I 235-253 (Tevijja-sutta)
DN 13 Tevijjasutta
Où sont les vrais brāhmanes?
The Three Knowledges

MW EDB: D. II 55-71 (Mahā-Nidāna-sutta)
DN 15 Mahānidānasutta
The Great Discourse on Causation

MW DVB: D. II 2.72-2.168 (Mahāparinibbāna-sutta)
DN 16 Mahāparinibbānasutta
The Great Discourse on the Buddha’s Extinguishment

MW SDB: M. I 83-90 (Mahā-Dukkhakkandha-sutta)
MN 13 Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta
Un grand monceau de dukkha
The Longer Discourse on the Mass of Suffering

MW SDB. I 192-197 (Mahā-Sārōpama-sutta)
MN 29 Mahāsāropamasutta
Le cœur d’un grand arbre solide
The Longer Simile of the Heartwood

MW SDB: M. I 414-420 (Ambalaṭṭhikā-Rāhulōvāda-sutta)
MN 61 Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta
L’utilité de l’attention
Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhika

MW SDB: M. I 426-432 (Cūḷa-Māluṅkyā-sutta)
MN 63 Cūḷamālukyasutta
Les questions inutiles
The Shorter Discourse With Māluṅkya

MW EDB: M. II 106-112 (Piyajātika-sutta)
MN 87 Piyajātikasutta
Born From the Beloved

MW M. III 104-109 (Cūḷa-Suññata-sutta)
MN 121 Cūḷasuññatasutta
La vacuité
The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness

MW ADM: M. III, 202-206 (Cūḷa-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta)
MN 135 Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta
The Shorter Analysis of Deeds

MW ADM: M. III, 207-215 (Mahā-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta)
MN 136 Mahākammavibhaṅgasutta
The Longer Analysis of Deeds

MW EDB: M. III 215-222 (Saḷāyatanavighaṇga-sutta)
MN 137 Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgasutta
The Analysis of the Six Sense Fields

MW SDB: M. III 298-302 (Indriyabhāvanā-sutta)
MN 152 Indriyabhāvanāsutta
Le développement des facultés sensorielles
The Development of the Faculties

MW SDB: S. I 82-85 (Saṅgāma-sutta)
SN 3.14 Paṭhamasaṅgāmasutta, SN 3.15 Dutiyasaṅgāmasutta
La guerre et la paix
Battle (1st and 2nd)

MW SDB: S. I 91-92 (Aputtaka-sutta)
SN 3.20 Dutiyaaputtakasutta
La richesse chez l’avare
Childless (2nd)

MW SDB: S. I 100-102 (Pabbatūpama-sutta)
SN 3.25 Pabbatūpamasutta
La guerre pendant les avalanches
The Simile of the Mountain

MW EDB: S. II 16-17 (Kaccāyanagotta-sutta)
SN 12.15 Kaccānagottasutta
Kaccānagotta

MW SDB: S. II 16-19 (Acela-sutta)
SN 12.17 Acelakassapasutta
La coproduction conditionnée
With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic

MW EDB: S. II 25-26 (Bhāra-sutta)
SN 22.22 Bhārasutta
The Burden

MW EDB: S. II 94-95 (Assutavā-sutta)
SN 12.61 Assutavāsutta
Unlearned

MW EDB: S. II 104-107 (Nagara-sutta)
SN 12.65 Nagarasutta
The City

MW EDB: S. III 1-5 (Nakula-sutta)
SN 22.1 Nakulapitusutta
Nakula’s Father

MW EDB: S. III 14-18 (Upadhiparitassanā-sutta)
SN 22.7 Upādāparitassanāsutta
Anxiety Because of Grasping

MW SDB: S. III 66-67 (Anattalakkhaṇa-sutta)
SN 22.59 Anattalakkhaṇasutta
La doctrine de “Non-Soi”
The Characteristic of Not-Self

MW EDB: S. III 140-143 (Phena-sutta)
SN 22.95 Pheṇapiṇḍūpamasutta
A Lump of Foam

MW SDB: S. IV 19-20 (Ādittapariyāya-sutta)
SN 35.28 Ādittasutta
L’incendie
Burning

MW SDB: S. IV 179-181 (Dārukkhandha-sutta)
SN 35.241 Paṭhamadārukkhandhopamasutta
Un tronçon de bois
The Simile of the Tree Trunk (1st)

MW SDB: S. IV 230-231 (Sīvaka-sutta)
SN 36.21 Sīvakasutta
Les actions et leurs résultats
With Sīvaka

MW ADM: S. V 344-346 (Dīghāvu-Sutta)
SN 55.3 Dīghāvuupāsakasutta
With Dīghāvu

MW SDB: S. V 352-356 (Veḷudvāreyya-sutta)
SN 55.7 Veḷudvāreyyasutta
Les préceptes aux nobles
The People of Bamboo Gate

MW ADM: S. V 375-377 (Sarakāni-Sutta)
SN 55.24 Paṭhamasaraṇānisakkasutta
About Sarakāni (1st)

MW ADM: S. V 408-410 (Gilāna-Sutta)
SN 55.54 Gilānasutta
Sick

MW SDB: S. V 420-424 (Dhamma-Cakkappavattana-sutta)
SN 56.11 Dhammacakkappavattanasutta
Les quatre nobles verités
Rolling Forth the Wheel of Dhamma

MW SDB: A. I 187-191 (Kālāma-sutta)
AN 3.65 Kesamuttisutta
L’accès aux libres examens
With the Kālāmas of Kesamutta

MW EDB: A. II 172-174 (Jānussōni-sutta)
AN 4.184 Abhayasutta
Fearless

MW EDB: A. III 57 (Mallikā-sutta)
AN 5.48 Alabbhanīyaṭhānasutta
Situations
AN 5.49 Kōsala
Kosalasutta

MW SDB: A. III 57-59 (Verañjaka-sutta)
AN 4.53 Paṭhamasaṁvāsasutta
Les dieux et les déesses
Living Together (1st)

MW EDB: A. III 410-417 (Nibbedikapariyāya-sutta)
AN 6.63 Nibbedhikasutta
Penetrative

MW SDB: A. IV 41-46 (Aggi-sutta)
AN 7.47 Dutiyaaggisutta
Le principe de non-violence
Fires (2nd)

MW EDB: A. IV 179-187 (Sīha-sutta)
AN 8.12 Sīhasutta
With Sīha

MW EDB: A. IV 190-194 (Bhaddiya-sutta)
AN 4.193 Bhaddiyasutta
With Bhaddiya

MW EDB: A. IV 281-285 (Vyagghapajja-sutta)
AN 8.54 Dīghajāṇusutta
With Dīghajāṇu

MW ADM: A. V 137-144 (Migasālā-Sutta)
AN 10.75 Migasālāsutta
With Migasālā

MW EDB: A. V 185-189 (Anāthapiṇḍika-sutta)
AN 10.93 Kiṁdiṭṭhikasutta
What Is Your View?

MW EDB: A. V 193-195 (Uttiya-sutta)
AN 10.95 Uttiyasutta
With Uttiya

MW EDB: Ud. 6-9 (Bāhiya-Sutta)
Ud 1.10 Bāhiyasutta
With Bāhiya

MW EDB: Ud. 47 (Kōsala-sutta)
Ud 5.1 Piyatarasutta
Who Is More Dear?

MW ADM: Ud. 91-92 (Visākhā-Sutta)
Ud 8.8 Visākhāsutta
With Visākhā

END

[Onze]

Sorry @sabbamitta , I misunderstood your original comment, I see you already have those books!

That being said, apparently there’s also this:

Wijayaratna (Môhan) Le Bouddha et ses disciples. Texte intégral de 27 textes du Canon bouddhique

So potentially 27 more suttas. I’ll try to hunt down a copy.

Best,

Julien

[Snowbird]

If you are going to keep updating, you might want to consider making a wiki post. After you make a new thread you can convert the first post to a wiki which will allow you or anyone to edit it indefinitely. Changes are tracked so you can always see what was done to the document.

[Onze]

Might not be worth the effort, I doubt more translations are forthcoming.

[sabbamitta]

@sabbamitta

Well then … take this for today:

And here it continues:

La philosophie du Bouddha

1. Dīghanakha-Sutta (M.I, 497-501): MN 74 Dīghanakhasutta, With Dīghanakha
2. Mahā-Taṇhāsaṅkhaya-Sutta (M. I, 256-271): MN 38 Mahātaṇhāsaṅkhayasutta, The Longer Discourse on the Ending of Craving
3. Māgandiya-Sutta (M.I, 501-513): MN 75 Māgaṇḍiyasutta, With Māgaṇḍiya
4. Cūḷa-Sukuludāyi-Sutta (M. II, 29-39; I think there’s a typo in the title as it is in the book and it should be “Sakuludāyi”): MN 79 Cūḷasakuludāyisutta, The Shorter Discourse With Sakuludāyī
5. Alagaddūpama-Sutta (M. I, 130-142): MN 22 Alagaddūpamasutta, The Simile of the Cobra
6. Mūlapariyāya-Sutta (M. I, 1-6): MN 1 Mūlapariyāyasutta, The Root of All Things
7. Aggi-Vacchagotta-Sutta (M. I, 483-489): MN 72 Aggivacchasutta, With Vacchagotta on Fire
8. Cūḷa-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta (M. III, 202-206): MN 135 Cūḷakammavibhaṅgasutta, The Shorter Analysis of Deeds
9. Mahā-Kammavibhaṅga-Sutta (M. III, 207-215): MN 136 Mahākammavibhaṅgasutta, The Longer Analysis of Deeds
10. Mahā-Cattārisaka-Sutta (M. III, 71-78): MN 117 Mahācattārīsakasutta, The Great Forty

So that’s all that I have now.

[Gillian]

@Snowbird

If you are going to keep updating, you might want to consider making a wiki post. After you make a new thread you can convert the first post to a wiki which will allow you or anyone to edit it indefinitely. Changes are tracked so you can always see what was done to the document.

Not all users have the power to make wikis, but if they ask in the thread, or tag @ moderators someone with higher powers will be sure to act.

[BethL]

@Gillian

Not all users have the power to make wikis, but if they ask in the thread, or tag @ moderators someone with higher powers will be sure to act.

Not sure why I have uber-user privileges but I was able to create the wiki. Ven. @sabbamitta I am happy to update the wiki with the additional 10 you just added yesterday. If I don’t see it updated tomorrow (Monday) by you, I’ll go ahead and do that. This is great!

[sabbamitta]

@BethL

If I don’t see it updated tomorrow (Monday) by you, I’ll go ahead and do that.

Please go ahead!

I am sure there are more though. I used to have some volumes with 2 or 3 entire Nikayas (don’t remember which ones exactly, but could perhaps find out at some point). I gave them to a monastery where there are French speaking visitors coming, so they might be of good use.

[Onze]

He has translated the entirety of Digha (3 vol.) and Majjhima (5 vol.).