84000 Matures to Independence

“By translating and making available the Tibetan Buddhist texts to modern people, a vast swath of Buddhist civilization and culture may be saved from annihilation.”
— Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche underscored the urgency of the mission. March 2009.

In March 2009, more than 50 of the world’s top translators, teachers, academics, and students of Tibetan Buddhism gathered at the Translating the Words of the Buddha Conference, sponsored by Khyentse Foundation at Deer Park Institute in Bir, India. The conference culminated in the collective undertaking of the Buddhist Literary Heritage Project, later renamed as 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, with the goal of translating into English and other modern languages all of the vast and extraordinary riches of Buddhist literature, particularly the Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur, and making them universally accessible within a hundred years.

The conference resolved and requested that Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche take on interim leadership of the initiative, and that Khyentse Foundation provide administrative support for the initial phases of development. It was also written in the resolutions of the organization “to make every effort to invite the participation of the masters and holders of all lineages and to invite the many translators who were not present in this conference to join us in this effort.”

More than 50 translators participated in the Translating the Words of the Buddha Conference in Bir, India.

In January 2010, 84000 was set up to operate under the umbrella of Khyentse Foundation, with the aim of achieving fiscal independence within 5 years. We are delighted to announce that within just 4 years, 84000 has developed into a viable operation and has successfully established itself as an independent, global organization, with a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit status in the United States.

A new face and look for 84000. Design: Jordan Valdez

Here are the contact details for the independent 84000:

Name 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha
Mailing Address 43456 Ellsworth St. #3332
Fremont, CA 94539-9991
Email info@84000.co
Website www.84000.co
Non-profit Tax I.D. #45-4302237

Since its inception, 84000 has received infrastructural and administrative assistance from Khyentse Foundation. The Foundation also formulated plans for and assisted 84000 with fund-raising efforts during its formative years. At the time of 84000’s independence, the Foundation granted more than US$4 million in restricted donations as an operating reserve to provide a solid financial base for 84000.

With all this support from Khyentse Foundation, 84000 is able to step forward today as an independent organization that is supporting 144 translators to work on 105 texts (10,027 pages) of translation, more than 15% of the Kangyur. 84000 has already published 14 texts (669 pages) in the online reading room (read.84000.co). We have also attracted 108 founding sponsors and thousands of page sponsors and sutra sponsors.

Today, with this new beginning as an independent organization, 84000 will keep its momentum and continue to strive to fulfil its vision of providing universal access to the words of the Buddha through translation into modern languages.

The 84000 working committee met for the first time in Pasadena, September 2009.

The second working committee meeting was hosted by Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen in Tsechen Kunchab Ling in Walden, New York, June 2010.

The third meeting was was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, December 2010. This was the last 84000 meeting Gene Smith joined before he passed away.

The fourth meeting was hosted by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche in NalandaWest, June 2011.

The fifth 84000 working committee meeting was held in Shechen monastery, Bodhgaya, October 2012.


Posted: 16 Oct 2013