My simplified translation of the Pāḷi text Jinacarita has just been published in Singapore by Awaken Publishing & Design.
The book is a retelling in simple and poetic language of the story of the Bodhisatta’s fulfilling of the Perfections, his Quest for Awakening and the Establishing of the Religion of the Buddha of our age.
The poem was written in Sri Lanka by Ven. Medhaṅkara in the 13th century when Buddhist culture was undergoing a renaissance and is a vibrant retelling of the traditional story presented in such works as the Introduction to the Jātaka Stories.
In short and evocative chapters, the main outline of the story is presented, bringing the epic journey through space and time to life in a memorable fashion that is suitable for inspiring and informing older children and adults alike.
The poem has been translated into clear and simple language, which maintains the beauty of the original Pāḷi while making the work accessible to the English-speaking world.
I am particularly grateful to Sis. Yen Chua, an award winning artist, who has graced the book with 30 evocative and inspiring drawings, which help to bring the poetry of the text alive. I include some of them below.
For those who cannot find a copy of the book, it is also available on my Ancient Buddhist Texts website in printable PDF format here.
The Cover
Pages are White on Black
The Pure Unsullied Birth
Sotthiya’s Grass Offering
The Dhamma Wheel Set Rolling
The Jetavana Monastery
The Alms-Round in Kapilavatthu
Teaching Far and Wide