On the Khmer Buddhist website, I’ve noticed a number of recent Khmer translations posted (that’s translations from English into Khmer).
- The Word of the Doctrines (Dhammapada-gatha) a Khmer-English text by Ven. Suy Sovann
- Practical Vipassana Meditation Exercise by Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw, translated by Ven. Prum Sina
- The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, by Ven. U Silananda, translated by Ven. Prum Sina
- How to Practice Buddhism, by Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, translated by Ven. Soeurng Vutthy
- Happy Married Life, by Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, translated by Ven. Prum Sina
- An Exposition of Buddhism, by Pidiville Piyatissa, translated by Ven. Prum Sina
- The Purpose of Life, by Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda, translated by Ven. Suy Sovann
- Why Buddhism? by Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda, translated by Ven. Suy Sovann
- A Talk on Kamma, Rebirth and Suffering, by Ven. U Sayadaw, translated by Ven. Suy Sovann
In the ever more interconnected domain of Buddhist publishing, the English language reigns supreme. This is where the cultural center of gravity is moving in the Buddhist world. It’s fortuitous for someone like me, a native English speaker, but I wonder what it will mean for the majority of Buddhists, who do not speak English as their native tongue—and what the broader implications will be in terms of influence, prestige and education.