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The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

An English translation of one of the longest discourses in the canon, detailing the last year of the Buddha’s life, and his final teachings (Mahāparinibbānasuttaṁ, DN 16)

An English translation of one of the longest discourses in the canon, detailing the last year of the Buddha’s life, and his final teachings (Mahāparinibbānasuttaṁ, DN 16)

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Preface<br />

In preparing this text and translation for publication I have divided it<br />

into a number of versions. In <strong>the</strong> Buddhist Texts and Studies section<br />

will be found <strong>the</strong> Pāḷi text toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> variant readings. This is a<br />

more technical work dealing with <strong>the</strong> establishment of <strong>the</strong> text, and<br />

considers <strong>the</strong> text from <strong>the</strong> point of view of its grammar, prosody, and<br />

how <strong>the</strong> material has been collected.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> Texts and Translations section I present <strong>the</strong> full text and<br />

translation with annotations which help to explain matters that may<br />

not be clear from <strong>the</strong> text itself. I have <strong>the</strong>refore translated sections<br />

from <strong>the</strong> Commentary, added notes on <strong>the</strong> history and geography, and<br />

explained points of doctrine whenever it seemed necessary.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> English section <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>the</strong> translation only, with somewhat less<br />

notes than in <strong>the</strong> Text and Translations section, which is intended for<br />

<strong>the</strong> casual reader who wants a reliable translation but is not interested<br />

in <strong>the</strong> technical matters concerning <strong>the</strong> original text itself.<br />

I am very grateful to Dhammacārī Chittapāla for reading through <strong>the</strong><br />

translation and making many valuable corrections and suggestions for<br />

improvement, his knowledge of Pāḷi and <strong>the</strong> teaching, and his<br />

willingness to help with this work, are greatly appreciated. If anyone<br />

else has any corrections please let me know at anandajoti@gmail.com.<br />

Ānandajoti Bhikkhu<br />

May 2008<br />

5

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