[Buddha-l] Infinite Life Sutra

[[DPD CDT] Shen Shi'an]

Hi Buddha-Lers, 

Does anyone know any details on the controversies between the two most currently popular Chinese versions of the Infinite Life Sutra?

The one that seems favoured by scholars is as translated by Samghavarman (¿µ/É®æz: circa 252). E.g.: http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/larger-sutra-1.htm (in English). The other one that is most prevalently distributed free these days is as compiled by a layman called Xia Lianju (ÏÄɏ¾Ó: 1884-1965), from 5 different Chinese translations. (There's no 'approved' English translation of it yet.) I understand that there are 2 camps right now supporting the respective translations, and that there is much 'argument' as to which is more authentic.

On an not so scholarly note(?), when there are a few extant versions of a sutra available, is it better to synthesise them into one for convenience for use by devotees (e.g for chanting)? Will this tend to increase the possibility of consolidating mistakes or accurate points? If there is no compilation done, devotees might miss important points in other translations? So it seems, for practical usage, both compiling and not compiling have their pros and cons. 

Thanks in advance :-]
Amituofo, shi'an
 

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