Art. V.—Brief Prefatory Remarks to the Translation of the Amitâbha Sûtra from Chinese

Extract

The following translation of the Amitâbha Sûtra is made from the Chinese edition of that work, prepared by Kumârajîva, and bound up in a volume known as the “Daily Prayers of the Buddhist Priests belonging to the Contemplative School” (Shan-mun).

No doubt the Chinese version is much abbreviated. We are told that Kumârajîva omitted repetitions and superfluities in making his translations. We have reason to be thankful that he did so.