I am going to be adding to this, and re-dating it. Comments welcome
When writing, I try to be clear. The problem is that Buddhist terms have been translated and retranslated. As a Nichiren Buddhists, I was introduced to the go-on Japanese reading of Chinese translations; even though I did not know that. Among these sino-japanese terms, there are plenty of homophones, so we need to know which shin, which kan, and so on. Then there are four or so other ways to read the same kanji. These were translated from Sanskrit; which may or may not be the same as the Pali originals. Argh!
Then we often have a bunch of different translations of the same term. So I might give the Pali, the Sanskrit if different, the sino-japanese, the kanji script, and several common translations. Then people like Hanlen, Gropp, or Petry give me grief about using 'lingo.' It also makes it seems like one must be a frigging linguist to be a Buddhist. I can recall detesting Sanskrit terms, until I figured out they consist of syllables, not letters.
Soooo, anyway, I was reading a nice article, and the author was talking about mindfulness. I started getting confused though, then it dawned on me; he was translating samatha / shi { 止}; a term usually translated as calm, tranquility, or sometimes concentration, as mindfulness. Then, he was translating Sati / Smrti / Nen {念}, a term normally rendered as mindfulness, as recollection. This changed the whole meaning of the article.
Now, I am all for making this material accessible. and using English. However, I can also see doing that leading to ambiguity and confusion. I figure If I am going to confuse readers, I might as well do it right. Perhaps readers have some advice?
Here are some terms commonly used and confused in discussions about meditation:
Bhavana: I do not know the sino-japanese for this. For Buddhist use, cultivation
is the best translation. For general use, it means education. Meditation is bad translation.
Samatha / shi { 止}: I have seen this translated as calm, tranquility, quietude, stilling [of the mind]. These are all fine, I do not have a preference. Mindfulness is not fine; concentration is dubious, as are stopping or cessation. THE latter four are better used as translations of other terms.
Samadhi / sanmai { 三昧 a transliteration}: I have seen this translated as concentration, contemplation, and meditation. For Buddhist use, concentration is my preference. Note that Sama-tha and Sama-dhi are virtually the same word. However, in context, samatha has a broader meaning. Also, In Patanjali Yoga, samadhi has a different meaning, it is sometimes translated as trance, and infers a sort of cosmic consciousnesses.
Jhana/Dhyana / Zen {禅}: Meditation, contemplation, or Absorption. In Japan, this is pretty much a generic term for silent meditation. I think that is correct in Patanjali Yoga too. However, in the original Buddhist context of samatha bhavana, jhana or rupa-dhyana is a deep state of samadhi or concentration, focused on form. I like absorption as a translation.
Samapatti: Attainment; a sort of abstract or formless absorption
Nirodha: Cessation, stopping [of consciouness].
Sati/Smrti / nen {念}: Mindfulness, attention, a perceptive or spacious awareness.
Vipassana/vipashyana / Kan {観}: I think the best translation is insight. Others include observation, seeing, and contemplation.
Panna/Prajna / Hannya { 般若, a transliteration} / E {慧}: One of several words translated as wisdom or discernment. Its use implies more than just book knowledge; it seems to be practical wisdom, but more than just know-how from experience. It seems to indicate understanding, as opposed to rote learning.
Jnana/idna / Chi {智}: Translated as gnosis, information, knowledge, or wisdom. Its use sometimes implies acquired cognitive skills; at other times, acquired information.
Vijja/Vidya / Myo {明}: Knowledge or Wisdom, generally of the more arcane or esoteric sort, such as secret lore.
Vinnana/Vijnana:
Posted by rbeck at November 28, 2007 11:03 PM