Rating: 
Summary: The Buddhist Teachings Reference
Review: Although some reviewers emphasis is on the scholarship or the translation, this book contains chiefly the values of Buddhism as taught by the Buddha Gotama. Because it contains an important part of the Buddha Gotama's life, it is long, and in the same style as Gotama taught : parabola's, metaphors,...and with a very strong taste of aryan culture....hence it not easy for westerners to gather its meaning unambiguously. This is therefore not an introductory book. For that, "The heart of the Buddha's teachings" by Thich Nhat Hanh is probably the best choice to get the substance of the Teachings, since it relies on a wonderful intuitive style. If you prefer a more provocative as well as more sensible version of the Buddhist values, Sanditeva's "Bodhicaryavatara" is strongly recommended...it is shorter, more dense and extraordinary in its depth...up to you to choose the writing style that is the most likely to be fitting to you... Please don't forget to begin with introductory books about Buddhism since getting directly in the values without having a preliminary understanding of the culture will make you loose much of the more advanced books meaning...as always, first the basics to understand where you are going to, then go farther on the path you now clearly see... Take the time to grasp the meaning of every word, compare every "sutta" with your life and your values, it is worth the intellectual effort.
Rating:
Summary: Very modern translation, some flaws
Review: Digha Nikaya contains discourses are the longest when compared to other Nikayas of the Pali Canon. Hence, probably it's less authentic (word by word of the Buddha) than other shorter suttas or Vinaya (rules). There are 2 discourses that I like: One is discribe the death (paranirvana) of the Buddha - reveals the deepest compassion and encouragement from the Buddha; Another one is the Mahasatipatthana sutta - it discribe the "heart" of Buddhist meditation, the kind of meditation the Buddha practiced himself. I believe this is the most important sutta of in the Canon (for practice).I disagree about some of the writing about the origin of human in one sutta near the end. I don't believe everything I read, or heard. I think the Buddha encourages us to see things through experiences not mere beliefs. I think this translation is very readable yet not adding any flavors (ethics, believes...etc.). However, I have the feeling that the author could not conveyed all the deepest meanings in the Nikaya (maybe because he's just a scholar). Beside that, this is the best translation to English of this Nikaya up to date (compare with the Pali Text Society version).
Rating: 
Summary: Butchered Translation
Review: It is amazing someone would spend so much time to translate a text like this only to not translate it in it's entirety. I have seen this before with Conze's translations of Buddhist texts which are equally appalling. This being a ancient religious text, it has repetition. But it is there for a reason. One, often an important point is repeated so that you remember it. Two, with Buddhist texts, many of them are meant to be a meditation, the repetition is part of that. Third it is a poetic device. But again when you buy a translation of a text don't you expect to get the WHOLE text and not have it edited at whim by the translator. The Sutras are the equivalent of the Bible in Buddhism. Wouldn't you think something is wrong if every time a translation of the Bible repeated itself (as the synoptic gospels do) that you just got a note instead of the actual text. I can't believe Wisdom even published it, no one would publish a bible that way. Worse still, Walshe doesn't note the majority of the items he leaves out but just gives you a ... to indicted he didn't feel the point was important enough to translate. And these often come a point where it really interferes with the reading of the text. I want my money back.
Rating:
Summary: Butchered Translation
Review: It is amazing someone would spend so much time to translate a text like this only to not translate it in it's entirety. I have seen this before with Conze's translations of Buddhist texts which are equally appalling. This being a ancient religious text, it has repetition. But it is there for a reason. One, often an important point is repeated so that you remember it. Two, with Buddhist texts, many of them are meant to be a meditation, the repetition is part of that. Third it is a poetic device. But again when you buy a translation of a text don't you expect to get the WHOLE text and not have it edited at whim by the translator. The Sutras are the equivalent of the Bible in Buddhism. Wouldn't you think something is wrong if every time a translation of the Bible repeated itself (as the synoptic gospels do) that you just got a note instead of the actual text. I can't believe Wisdom even published it, no one would publish a bible that way. Worse still, Walshe doesn't note the majority of the items he leaves out but just gives you a ... to indicted he didn't feel the point was important enough to translate. And these often come a point where it really interferes with the reading of the text. I want my money back.
Rating: 
Summary: Translations
Review: Maurice Walsh's work is amazing. He has taken several volumes from the Pali Canon, and by editing down the repetitions, (which you can reference back to if you so desire) condensed these important teachings into a very user-friendly book. Like Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation of The Middle Length Discourse of the Buddha, this book is probably not best for a beginner, but, once you have a little interest and background into the Buddha's teachings, this is a must have resource. If I could only have a few books on Buddhism/the Buddha's teachings, this would be one of them. The suttas, as the title informs, tend to be long, but they don't need to be read in one short sitting. You might find it helpful to read a few passages, contemplate them for a day or so and then return and read more. This way you can begin to apply them in your life. The Buddha didn't lay down a gospel to follow. He simply pointed A Way. We can read his words, try them in our life, and see if they are true though our direct experience. There is no need for `faith' or `belief' in the words, try them and see for yourself. This book starts off with a short background into the Buddha's life, the times in which he was alive, and his basic teachings. Each sutta, (Discourse) is summarized to give you an overview of the topic however, the majority of this enormous book consists of the Discourses of the Buddha. I hope you find great pleasure in reading what is arguably, the closest we can come to the actual words of the Buddha.
Rating:
Summary: Once you¿ve read the basics, this one should be next
Review: Maurice Walsh's work is amazing. He has taken several volumes from the Pali Canon, and by editing down the repetitions, (which you can reference back to if you so desire) condensed these important teachings into a very user-friendly book. Like Bhikkhu Bodhi's translation of The Middle Length Discourse of the Buddha, this book is probably not best for a beginner, but, once you have a little interest and background into the Buddha's teachings, this is a must have resource. If I could only have a few books on Buddhism/the Buddha's teachings, this would be one of them. The suttas, as the title informs, tend to be long, but they don't need to be read in one short sitting. You might find it helpful to read a few passages, contemplate them for a day or so and then return and read more. This way you can begin to apply them in your life. The Buddha didn't lay down a gospel to follow. He simply pointed A Way. We can read his words, try them in our life, and see if they are true though our direct experience. There is no need for 'faith' or 'belief' in the words, try them and see for yourself. This book starts off with a short background into the Buddha's life, the times in which he was alive, and his basic teachings. Each sutta, (Discourse) is summarized to give you an overview of the topic however, the majority of this enormous book consists of the Discourses of the Buddha. I hope you find great pleasure in reading what is arguably, the closest we can come to the actual words of the Buddha.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly indispensible
Review: Superlatives alone serve to describe this great achievement of scholarship, translation and dedication to fundamental Buddhism. Walshe was not only a master of languages but a practicing Buddhist -- and it certainly shows. This particular product of his knowledge and his faith is one of the most inspiring and elucidating volumes of Buddhist text available to the English-speaking reader. I will leave it to others to describe the wonderful prose into which Walshe turns the complexities of the Pali language, and the clarity with which he manages to capture in readable English the most arcane Buddhist concepts. I prefer instead to recommend this book because of my own favorite part: The dozens of witty, insightful notes and asides which Walshe buries throughout, waiting for the reader to stumble upon them and have them explode like intellectual land-mines, bursting with clarity, erudition -- and gentle humor. I find myself turning to this book all the time simply to consult its remarkable introduction and ample appendices. Walshe is consistently the most accurate and reliable source of basic information about tbe Buddha, Buddhism, the Pali language and Pali literature I have encountered. In my awe at his ability to teach, I can only assume that Walshe took as his model the Buddha himself. Deprived of the opportunity to have had first-hand contact as a student of either one, I content myself with the belief that Walshe's book represents the second-best chance to study at the feet of both.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly indispensible
Review: Superlatives alone serve to describe this great achievement of scholarship, translation and dedication to fundamental Buddhism. Walshe was not only a master of languages but a practicing Buddhist -- and it certainly shows. This particular product of his knowledge and his faith is one of the most inspiring and elucidating volumes of Buddhist text available to the English-speaking reader. I will leave it to others to describe the wonderful prose into which Walshe turns the complexities of the Pali language, and the clarity with which he manages to capture in readable English the most arcane Buddhist concepts. I prefer instead to recommend this book because of my own favorite part: The dozens of witty, insightful notes and asides which Walshe buries throughout, waiting for the reader to stumble upon them and have them explode like intellectual land-mines, bursting with clarity, erudition -- and gentle humor. I find myself turning to this book all the time simply to consult its remarkable introduction and ample appendices. Walshe is consistently the most accurate and reliable source of basic information about tbe Buddha, Buddhism, the Pali language and Pali literature I have encountered. In my awe at his ability to teach, I can only assume that Walshe took as his model the Buddha himself. Deprived of the opportunity to have had first-hand contact as a student of either one, I content myself with the belief that Walshe's book represents the second-best chance to study at the feet of both.
Rating: 
Summary: Warning - the material in this book is far too involving.
Review: The Digha Nikaya was apparently the first portion of the Pali Canon to be recited after the Buddha's passing and contains some of his most important discourses. This book compresses all 30 odd discourses (suttas) into a relatively slim volume compared to the original with its repetitions which would run into tens of volumes.
The only alternative to this edition which is reputable is still probably Rhys David's translation for the PTS in 3 volumes which is actually good but archaic, harder and pricier to get hold of.
Walshe's translation reads easily and his notes are quite chatty but a few of his comments could have been avoided. The Buddha comes across as quite human is his speech and earnest in conveying something to his listeners (the English is highly readable and fairly simple as opposed to older and archaic rendering), commanding as usual but cool and detached with a tremendous sense of compassion.
More abstruse passages within certain suttas will not be understood by most readers without meditation practice or guidance from teachers and the book itself lacks sufficient explanation, in fact some elements of the translation may be wrong or mis-interpretted.
This book is a boon companion for anyone who feels s/he needs the highest security.
Most of the suttas here are applicable to lay people as well as monks (the usual audience the Buddha addressed) and this volume contains seminal discourses such as 1. The Great Discourse on the foundations of mindfulness, 2. The discourse of the Great decease of the Buddha and 3. Fruits of the homeless life. There are many others such as one specifically as to how lay-people should live and guard their worldly affairs and at least two dealing with gods or conversations with celestial beings.
I think this book represents an excellent reference for the price and can be read aloud when you are alone. Profound, mysterious, to the heart and yet sometimes extreme or humourous. As Nyanaponika says (the late) "Mr Walshe has done an excellent job".
Rating:
Summary: Translations
Review: The problem is, with translations of the Nikayas and most of the Pali Canon is that translations are scarce, and therefore choosing between a reliable and non-reliable translation is sometimes difficult. Many scholars debate over correct Pali translations and there are some terms which have been unsetteled for a long time, ever since the inception of the Pali Text Society. Unfortuantly, this is one of the translations that contains a few errors here and there, as well as misleading footnotes. Learning Pali and Sanskrit is not an option for all of us, so sometimes, these will suffice. Another interesting note is that the Nikayas are not really Theravada only (as is the Pali Canon), but these are some of the most fundamental texts of Buddhism dating back to the first Buddhist council, only a few years after the death of the Buddha.
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