Publications

The Monastery Editing and Translating Committee aims to provide Australians with a good understanding of Mahayana Buddhism. This school of Buddhism is practised in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and some parts of Indonesia. Their work has allowed the monastery to complete a number of publications. Some of these have been distributed to public libraries around Sydney. 

Publications

]     Selected Translations of Miao Yun – Venerable Yin Shun ;

        Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

]     Dharma and the Daily Life – Venerable Tsang Hui

]     Introductory Buddhism Studies – Venerable Miao Qin

]     Handbook of a Kindergarten Bodhisattva – Dr Y.K. Saw

]     A Sound Compassion – Dr Y.K. Saw

]     Zucchini and Tofu – Venerable Tsang Hui and others

Publications synopsis

Selected Translations of Miao Yun – Venerable Yin Shun    (Volumes as noted below)

The Editing and Translating Committee was formed in 1994, and has focused primarily on translating the Miao Yun Collection. The committee has been supported and encouraged by Venerable Tsang Hui, since its inception.

To date, five volumes of this collection have been translated. The volumes have been typeset with the original Chinese characters on the first page, with the translated and edited English text on the opposite page. In brief;

Volume I, of 255 pages, is an introductory text on following the Teachings of the Buddha.

Volume II, of  237 pages, includes suffering, rebirth, the Middle Path, and Emptiness.

Volume III of  379 pages, discusses rebirth, ways of practice, and Bodhicitta.

Volume IV, of  285 pages, includes Junior and Senior school level study texts.

Volume V, of  485 pages, discusses Buddhist ethics and education.

Dharma and the Daily Life – Venerable Tsang Hui  (334 pages)

A selection of talks on Buddhist ethics, practice, and meditation given at the University of NSW and in Singapore. Very suitable for all general readers.

 Introductory Buddhism Studies – Venerable Miao Qin  (350 pages in English and Chinese) 

This book includes the life of the Buddha, his principles, Buddhist practice, and spread of Buddhism. It is designed as a teaching text, with short paragraphs and chapters, and questions at the end of each chapter. It is very suitable for both Australian primary, or high school students.

Handbook of a Kindergarten Bodhisattva – Dr Y.K. Saw  (196 pages)

Ten discussion topics based on Samantabhadra (Pu Xian) Bodhisattva’s Ten Great Practices and Vows. This is a very knowledgable, and contemporary description of Mahayana Buddhist practice by an Australian author. More suited for advanced students, and as university reference. (Dr Y.K. Saw was a founding member of the Hwa Tsang Monastery, and the executive committee President from 1982 to 2002.)

A Sound Compassion – Dr Y.K. Saw  (341 pages)

Based on the Guan-Yin Sutra, (Pu Men Pin) this contemporary work translates the intricacies and explanations of Mahayana Buddhist practice for Australians. It includes a detailed glossary and index, also with Chinese Characters. This is very suitable for advanced students, particularly with a Chinese interest or background, and as a university reference.

Zucchini and Tofu – Venerable Tsang Hui and others  (171 pages)

Ordering Publications

If you would like copies, please send a large, self-addressed envelope, with appropriate postage for a book weight of about 300g to;

                        HTM Publications Officer
                        Hwa Tsang Monastery
                        29 Mackenzie Street
                        HOMEBUSH   NSW   2141 
                        AUSTRALIA

Please allow four weeks for delivery, as publication orders are forwarded by our volunteers. 

Background

When Venerable Tsang Hui arrived in Australia, he found that there were very few English Buddhist books. Although the legacy of the Beatles pop song group from the 1960s has made the West aware of Zen Buddhism, there are more followers in the East, of Mahayana Buddhism. 

In Australia, there are many people who are interested in Mahayana practice, and yet who have no ability to read Chinese. As well there is a younger immigrant Chinese generation, that cannot read Chinese. 

The Translating Team

Our small group of interested participants meet regularly to translate, type, and edit, selected Mahayana Chinese texts. Either a good knowledge of Chinese, or a good knowledge of English is very helpful. Typing skills are also a bonus. But most important is an ability to work in a team, to discuss how the salient points of an article should be accurately translated.

For the final editing, a knowledge of Buddhist principles is very important. However, besides drinking lots of coffee or tea, many members enjoy learning the dharma together, by this sort of intensive study. Monastery Venerables normally supervise these activities. Sometimes, we also require artists to illustrate the books with sketches, just like the ones on these webpages !

We also have some university students in Singapore and Malaysia, helping us with the translations. They send their edited texts by email to our local Australian members, who do the proofreading and compiling.

Choice of translations

The committee is currently translating the "Miao Yun Collection" by Venerable Yin Shun. Venerable Yin Shun's collection encompasses the teachings of the Northern schools of Buddhism. The writings of Venerable Yin Shun are considered a balance between rationality and sentiments. He did not view Buddhism from the Chinese cultural viewpoint, but wrote according to the principals of Early Buddhism. His writings dissect the essence of the Buddha's teachings, in systematic analyses and arguments. The works of Venerable Yin Shun are widely respected in China. This is a very important factor in promoting the dharma, and establishing good understanding among Buddhists. 

Venerable Tsang Hui was a student of Venerable Yin Shun in the Fu Yan Vihara, Taiwan, and he was greatly inspired by him.