Udana

The Udāna is a Buddhist scripture from the Short texts ( Khuddaka Nikaya ) of the Pali Canon. Udana literally means " sigh of relief ". In these aphorisms, mostly in verse, and the related notes to the particular occasion the Buddha's teaching is presented in condensed form.

The well-known parable of the "blind men and the elephant " appears here in Udana VI, 4-6.

Udāna also called in Sanskrit with the upward move which prana flow, a certain form of prana, with the metaphysical essence constituents in human connect the physical, the activation of which promotes the spiritual development and through which the soul at death leave the body.

Structure of the Udana

The Udana is divided into 8 chapters ( vagga ) of 10 teaching statements. One explanation of the event in prose verses follow as a conclusion.

Translations

In addition to the first overall translation by Karl Seidenstücker (1913 ) there is a translation of the verses by Kurt Schmidt (1954 ) and Fritz Schaefer (1998 ), currently the most readable well:

• Fritz Schaefer: Verse to breathe, The collection Udana. Beyerlein and stone Schulte, 1998, ISBN 3-931095-17-7