Comparative Translation Vocabulary
A Study of Some Translatons
of the Terms of the Core Dhammas
with Recommendations and Their Explanations
The Core Dhammas
The Four Paths to Supernormal Powers
The Seven Dimensions of Self-Awakening
The Aristocratic Eight-Dimensional High Way
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Sati | Mind, Memory | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness |
| Satipaṭṭhāna | Setting up Mind | Setting Up, Uprisings, Stations, Foundations of Mindfulness | Foundations of Mindfulness | Frames of Reference | Mindfulness |
| Ekāyano ayaɱ Maggo | One Sure Way | One Way, The One and Only Path | The Direct Path | The Direct Path | The Path to Convergence |
| Kāya | Body | Body | Body | Body | Body |
| Kāye kāy'ānupassī viharati (Vedana, Citta, Dhamma). | Living in the Body (etc) Overseeing Body (etc.) | Contemplating the body in the body | Contemplating the body as a body | Focusing on the body in and of itself | Observing an Aspect of the (Body, Feelings, Mind, Principles |
| Vedanā | Experience | Feeling | Feeling | Feeling | Feeling |
| Citte | Heart, Mental State | Consciousness, thought, | Mind | Mind | Mind |
| Dhamma | The Dhamma | Mind-States, Mental Objects, Ideas | Mind Objects | Mental Qualities | Principles |
§
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Cattāro Samma-p-padhānā | Four Consummate Efforts | Right, Supreme, Great Efforts, Strivings, | Right Strivings, Kinds of Striving | Right Effort | Four Right Efforts |
§
The Four Paths to Supernormal Powers
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Cattāri Iddhipādā | The Four Power Paths | Basis of, Roads to Psycic Power, Effective Power, Mystic Potencies, Stages to Efficiency | Bases for Spiritual Power | Bases of Power | Four bases of psychic power |
| Chanda | Wanting, Wishing | Desire-to-do, Intention, Desire | Desire, zeal | Desire | Enthusiasm |
| Viriya | Energy | Energy | Energy | Persistence | Energy |
| Citte | Heart, Having the Heart for it | Consciousness, thought, | Mind | Mind | Mental development |
| Vīmaɱsa | Rememberance, Investigation | Investigation | Investigation | Discrimination | Inquiry |
| Chanda- [Citta, Viriya, Vīmaɱsa] samādhi-padhāna-saṅkhāra-samannāgataɱ iddhi-pādaɱ bhāveti | begets the Powerpath Consisting of Effort-upon-Effort at Own-Making Serene Wishes [etc.] | develops the stage which is characterized by the mental co-efficient of an effort of purposive concentration [intellectual concentration, energized concentration, investigating concentration]; | develops the basis for spiritual power that possesses concentration due to desire and volitional formations of striving [etc.] | develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire & the fabrications of exertion, [etc.] | develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm [etc.], and active effort |
§
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Indriyāni | Forces | Faculties | Faculties | Faculties | Five Faculties |
| Saddhā | Faith | Faith | Faith | Conviction | Faith |
| Viriya | Energy | Energy | Energy | Persistence | Energy |
| Sati | Mind, Memory | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness |
| Samādhi | Serenity, Getting High | Concentration | Concentration | Concentration | Immersion |
| Paññā | Wisdom | Insight, Intelligence, | Wisdom | Discernment | Wisdom |
§
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato [AN.5.15] |
| Balani | Powers | Powers | Powers | Strengths | Powers |
| Saddhā | Faith | Faith | Faith | Conviction | Faith |
| Viriya | Energy | Energy | Energy | Persistence | Energy |
| Sati | Mind, Memory | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness |
| Samādhi | Serenity, Getting High | Concentration | Concentration | Concentration | Immersion |
| Paññā | Wisdom | Insight, Intelligence, | Wisdom | Discernment | Wisdom |
§
The Seven Dimensions of Self-Awakening
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Satta Sambojjhangā | Seven Dimensions of Self-Awakening | Parts, Links, Factors in Awakening, Enlightonment, Wisdom | Enlightenment Factors | The Seven Factors for Awakening | Seven awakening factors |
| Sati | Mind, Memory | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness |
| Dhamma-Vicaya | Investigation of Dhamma or Things | Dhamma Testing, Investigation, | Investigation, discrimination of states | Analysis of Qualities | Investigation of principles |
| Viriya | Energy | Energy | Energy | Persistence | Energy |
| Pīti | Enthusiasm | Zest, Rapture (Horner), Joy | Rapture | Rapture | Rapture |
| Passaddhi | Impassivity, Equanimity, Poise | Calming Down, Serenity, Satisfaction, Tranquillity, | Tranquillity | Serenity | tranquillity |
| Samādhi | Serenity, Getting High | Concentration | Concentration | Concentration | Immersion |
| Upekkha | Detachment | Equanimity, poise | Equanimity | Equanimity | Equanimity |
§
The Aristocratic Eight- Ten-Dimensional High Way
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Dhamma | Dhamma, The Teaching | Mental Objects, | Mental Qualities, Event, Action, Nibbana | Principles | |
| Sammā | Consummate, High | Right, Perfect, | Right, Correct, Perfectly | Right | Right |
| Micchā | Misguided, Contrary | Wrong | Wrong | Wrong | Wrong |
| Diṭṭhi | Working Hypothesis, View | View | View | View | View |
| Saɱkappa | Principles | Purpose, Aim, Intention; Horner: Thought | Intention | Resolve | Thought |
| Vācā | Talk, Speech | Speech | Speech | Speech | Speech |
| Kammanta | Works | Action, Doing | Action | Action | Action |
| Ājīva | Lifestyle | Livelihood, living | Livelihood | Livelihood | Livelihood |
| Vāyāma | Self-control | Effort | Effort | Effort | Effort |
| Sati | Mind, Memory | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness | Mindfulness |
| Samādhi | Serenity, Getting High | Concentration | Concentration | Concentration | Immersion |
| Cattāri Jhānāni | The Four Knowings, Gnosis | Musing, Jhāna | Jhāna | Mental Absorption | The Four Absorption |
| Avijjā | Blindness | Ignorance | Ignorance | Ignorance | Ignorance |
| Ñāṇa | Knowledge | Knowledge | Knowledge | Knowledge | NA |
| Vimutti | Freedom | Freedom | Liberation | Release | Freedom |
| Diṭṭhā | Seeing, The Seen | The Seen | The Seen | The Seen | Seen |
| Upekha | Detachment | Equanimity, Poise, Indifference | Equanimity | Equanimity | Equanimity |
§
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| Cattāri Jhānāni | The Four Knowings, Gnosis | Musing, Jhāna | Jhāna | Mental Absorption | The Four Absorption |
| Paṭhama Jhāna: Vivicc'eva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pīti-sukhaṃ paṭhamajjhānaṃ upasampajja viharati | Separated from sensuality, separated from unskillful things, with thinking, with pondering solitude-born pleasurable enthusiasm, there arises and he makes a habit of the First Knowing | Aloof from pleasures of the senses, aloof from unskilled states of mind, [he enters] into the first meditation which is accompanied by initial thought and discursive thought, is born of aloofness, and is rapturous and joyful | Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, [he enters] upon and [abides in] in the first jhana, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. | Quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities -- [a monk] enters and remains in the first jhana: rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought and evaluation | A mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. |
| Vitakka vicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ cetaso ekodibhāvaṃ avitakkaṃ avicāraṃ samādhijaṃ pīti-sukhaṃ dutiyajjhānaṃ upasampajja viharati | With the resolution of thinking and pondering, attaining impassivity, becoming whole-heartedly single-minded, without thinking and pondering, with the pleasurable enthusiasm born of Serenity, there arises and he makes a habit of the Second Knowing | By allaying initial and discursive thought, with the mind subjectively tranquillised and fixed on one point, I entered into and abided in the second meditation which is devoid of initial and discursive thought, is born of concentration, and is rapturous and joyful. | With the stilling of applied and sustained thought, I entered upon and abided in the second jhana, which has self-confidence and singleness of mind without applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of concentration. | Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thought and evaluation, he enters and remains in the second jhana: rapture and pleasure born of composure, unification of awareness free from directed thought and evaluation -- internal assurance. | As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected |
| Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhaṃ ca kāyena paṭisaṃvedeti, yan taṃ ariyā ācikkhanti 'upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī'ti taṃ tatiyajjhānaṃ upasampajja viharati | Dispassionate and detached from enthusiasm, living self-conscious and aware of bodilysense-reactions such as those described by the Aristocrats when they say: "Detached, minding, he lives pleasantly", there arises and he makes a habit of the Third Knowing | By the fading out of rapture, I dwelt with equanimity, attentive, and clearly conscious; and I experienced in my person that joy of which the ariyans say: 'Joyful lives he who has equanimity and is mindful,' and I entered into and abided in the third meditation. | With the fading away as well of rapture, I abided in equanimity, and mindful and fully aware, still feeling pleasure with the body, I entered upon and abided in the third jhana, on account of which noble ones announce: 'He has a pleasant abiding who has equanimity and is mindful.' | And furthermore, with the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful and alert, and physically sensitive to pleasure. He enters and remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous and mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding.' | And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, 'Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.' |
| Sukhassa ca pahāṇā dukkhassa ca pahāṇā pubb'eva somanassa-domanassānaṃ atthaṅgamā adukkha-m-asukhaṃ upekkhā-sati-pārisuddhiṃ catutthajjhānaṃ upasampajja viharati | Letting go of his former experiences of pleasure and pain, allowing his experience of mental ease and discomfort to subside on their own, without pleasure or pain, with utterly pure detachment of mind, there arises and he makes a habit of the Fourth Knowing | By getting rid of joy, by getting rid of anguish, by the going down of my former pleasures and sorrows, I entered into and abided in the fourth meditation which has neither anguish nor joy, and which is entirely purified by equanimity and mindfulness. | With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, I entered upon and abided in the fourth jhana, which has neither-pain-nor-pleasure and purity of mindfulness due to equanimity. | And furthermore, with the abandoning of pleasure and stress -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation and distress -- he enters and remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity and mindfulness, neither-pleasure-nor-pain. | Giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness |
§
| Pali | Recommended | PTS | Bhk. Bodhi | Bhk. Thanissaro | Bhk. Sujato |
| AppamādaAN 10.15 | Care | Earnestness, diligence | Diligence | Heedfulness | Diligence |
| AbhiññāAN 5.28 | Higher Knowledge/Powers | super knowledge, knowledge | direct knowledge | supernormal | realizing anything that can be realized by insight to which they extend the mind |
| Āhāra | Food | Food, supports | Nutriments | Nutriments | Food |
| Viññāṇa | Consciousness (Re-knowing-knowing-knowledge) | Consciousness, Cognition | Consciousness | Consciousness | Consciousness |
| Āsavā | Influences, Corrupting Influences | Cankers, Corruptions, Intoxicants, Poisons | Taints | Effluents, Fermentations | Defilements |
| Sankhārā | Own-making | Activities, Volitional Activities, Complexes, dispositions, synergies, mental property, mental adjuncts | causal activities, conditioned activities, formations, exertion | Fabrications | Choice |
| Parimukhaɱ Satim | Mind around mouth | set his mindfulness alert | established mindfulness in front | setting mindfulness to the fore [lit: the front of the chest] | focuses their mindfulness right there |
Source Texts:
Almost all the terms found here can be found in DN 33, DN 22, DN 15, MN 10