| 1. The book was bilingually
composed during my stay in England when
I was in England. It is an epic poem in
about 8000 lines of verse, . Its lyrical
emphasis on Lord Buddha's socio-moral
code, in preference to the metaphysical
aspects of philosophy, was highlighted
by many as a "work of great originality,
"and both East and West looked forward
to its transliteration into as many languages
as possible. I had to wait till last July
when a "Buddha-in-me-and-I-in-Buddha"
feeling caused mounting pressure within
me, and I consequently undertook its rendering
in English verse. Since English is, in
effect, a "central language"
of the world, I aimed first to take it
to the English-speaking world, so as to
create a base for other languages to use
it, and also to ensure its spread universally.
This was undertaken with a special emphasis
on a Japanese and Chinese version since
both the countries at present, is perhaps
the only countries most certainly taking
total care of Buddhist philosophy and
religion. I gather that Japan has about
a dozen government and private universities,
and a large number of schools as seats
of learning in Buddhist studies so has
China .
2. The English version contains 208
"Orations of Buddha" designed
to address the world anew. The poems
are integrated ones arranged in the
form of a 'Trilogy', i.e. it has three
groups of poems complete in themselves,
but with a common theme, and these are
in the following order:
I) Manifest Buddha: 4 chapters each
in three sections, each of which again
has about 10-12 poems which have well-conceived
titles totalling 140 poem-orations.
II) Resolve of Buddha: 42 poems in
4 sections, each with 10-11 poems.
III) In Admiration of Earth: 26 poems
in 3 sections, each with 9-10 poems.
3. Each poem is based on a different
facet of Buddhist teaching and when
these are read singly or in groups,
a true Buddha-Mind emerges. There are
authentic annotations wherever necessary
to explain the standpoints of Buddhist
philosophy of the poems; these appear
as foot-notes to facilitate simultaneous
reading of both the literature and the
philosophy. These two disciplines may
be likened respectively to free oxygen
in air and conserved oxygen in cylinders,
to come to the aid of humanity in health
and harness.
4. With great pleasure I extend my
co-operation to any individual and institution
who may render the work of translation
of book in any other language I thank
my Publisher Syed Mansoor who has given
unstinting support in the making of
the two versions of this book and is
readily awaiting for the aforesaid proposal.
There is a wide potential for illustrations
in Buddhist Art, since these poems are
feature-based for the literature which
seeks to encompass the history, the
philosophy and the religion of Buddhism.
"To be good, too good to darkness
and Time seemingly fine -they raise
regiments to suffer and make faces to
see light upper along with rays the
real hindrance to the illusive which
it (Light) flays." 688 |
