Diamond Sutra Demo CD Released by EBS

Institution: Institute for Advanced Studies of World Religions , New York, USA.
Person in charge: Dr. C. T. Shen
Address: IASWR
Rd #2, Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512, USA
Telephone: (914)225-1445, Fax: (914)225-0447, E-mail: bausny@aol.com

History

The Electronic Buddhadharma Society (EBS) was founded in Winter 1994, headquartered in Woo Ju Memorial Library of the Institute for Advanced Studies of World Religions (IASWR). The main purpose of the EBS is to computerize Buddhist texts in Chinese and store to CD-ROM, in the light of its advantage to preserve, carry, disseminate, promote, and study of Buddha dharma. Currently EBS has 7 chapters and 413 members all over the world, jointly by the Buddhist Association of the United States and the Institute for Advanced Studies of World Religions in New York, Torch of Wisdom in Taiwan, the Buddhist Association of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, just to name a few. EBS released its first demo version CD in March 1996. The formal version is planned to be released six months later. At present time EBS is directed by Dr. C. T. Shen, president of IASWR and Vice president of BAUS.

Content

The aim of this Demo CD is the creation of an encyclopedic base of knowledge for the Diamond Sutra. This CD contains texts of the Sutra; commentaries by the Six Patriarch Huei-Nan, Han-Shen Da Shih, Dar-Li Fa Shih, and Jang Wei-Non; The Grand Buddhist Dictionary (佛學大辭典) by Tin, Fu-Pao; The Buddhist Terminology (翻譯名義集); recitation of the Sutra in Chinese (Mandarin), and a numbers of colored pictures .

Features

This CD was designed by Jimmy Chang using Visual Basic. On top of the friendly (point and click) graphic user interface, it contains not just Sutra but also many powerful tools and features to help users read and study its contents. After running this program, users can do text string search from multiple dictionaries, text string can be either entered from keyboard or highlighted from the Sutra, view pictures or tables related to the text string searched, set bookmark, add notes , search previously set bookmarks and notes, adjust the speed of sound from knocking wooden fish, print text, hear recitation of the Sutra and view picture, etc. With all these rich features, users can easily create personal notes and bookmarks that are extremely helpful for future reference.

Environment

• Internal Code: All texts in this CD are stored in BIG-5 code. Hundreds of (new) user defined characters were created to supplement the existing BIG-5 character set. All texts were competently punctuated, edited, and proofread.
• Operating System: It can be run under either Microsoft (Chinese version) Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 on IBM compatibles.
• Recommended Hardware Requirements: CPU 486/66 MHz, 8 MB RAM, 256 color video display card, 2X CD driver, Sound card and speakers.

Distribution

Since the main purpose of EBS is to distribute Buddhist texts on CD to as many people as possible, we like to make it available and affordable to just about everyone. This Demo CD will be available free (first copy) to every EBS member, US $10 each for any extra copy. As to non-member, it will be US $10 each. Shipping and handling charge ($2.50 in US, $4.50 outside US) will be applied to both member and non-member. Order can be placed by mail or by phone. For ordering information, please contact IASWR, Rd #2, Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512, USA. Tel: (914) 225-1445, Fax: (914) 225-0447. E-mail: bausny@aol.com

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