eNews 7

84000 eNews Issue 7 | December 2011
         

Dear Friend,

84000 has come to the end of the second year of its ambitious undertaking to translate all of the Words of the Buddha into the world’s major modern languages, in order to ensure their preservation as part of humanity’s rich and diverse religious, cultural and literary heritage.

“Translating the Words of the Buddha…”

–– A Milestone is Reached!

We are happy to report that we are on track with 10% of the Kangyur –– approximately 8,000 pages of the Words of the Buddha –– in the process of being translated into English.

We wish to gratefully acknowledge our 70 founding sponsors and 500 page sponsors. Without your support, this important milestone could not have been reached.

Our grants committee recently concluded its second round of evaluation of applications. Grants are being finalized that will result in another 3,500-4,000 pages of translation. We will announce the funded translators and newly commissioned translations in the very near future.

Information about the 60 funded translators and 49 works in progress from the first cycle can be found on our website.

The momentum is building! In our second grant round, we had 21 applications from Dharma groups and monasteries, and a growing number of university teams. We are delighted by this clear sign that the broader translation community is aware of 84000 and is becoming more and more involved.

         


…And Making Them Available to Everyone

–– An Exciting Preview!

Coming Soon: We plan to conduct the first live tour of the 84000 Reading Room, which is a free online reading environment, where the second part of our mission –– to make the Words of the Buddha available to everyone –– comes alive. The tour will herald the opening of the Reading Room with the online publication of two tantras and a handful of short sutras –– the first completed English language translations to be shared with the world by 84000.

 

Scholars, students of Buddhism and other Reading Room users will be able to:

  • Scan the sections and titles in English, Sanskrit and Tibetan of all 1,169 texts in the Kangyur, and get a sense of the fascinating range of topics that the Buddha spoke about 2,500 years ago.
  • View the 150-word summaries to get an overview of the translated texts.
  • Have a direct encounter with the Words of the Buddha in an undistracted online reading environment, or download the translation in PDF format to read offline.
  • Learn more about key terms, person names, and place names through the integrated glossary and subject classification system that are linked to each translation.

Follow us closely on Facebook for more information on the live tour, or indicate your interest by email. The tour will orient you to the Reading Rooms features and how to navigate them.

In the meantime, treat yourself to a video preview of the 84000 Reading Room.

The Reading Room is being developed in collaboration with the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center (TBRC).

“The Buddha said that later in times of degeneration, he will appear as a teacher in the form of scriptures. The Words of the Buddha the scriptures––are deeply considered more precious than the image of the Buddha.”  

~ H.E. Garchen Rinpoche

Click here for more quotes.

         


Introducing our new North America Fundraising Director

On December 1, 2011, Deborah (Debbi) McGlauflin started work as 84000’s North America Fundraising Director.

Debbi brings experience from a successful international nonprofit fundraising career, as well as a deep personal commitment to the Dharma as a student of Sogyal Rinpoche and active member of Rigpa. She works from her home office in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington, DC.

Debbi is coordinating the effort to expand 84000’s outreach beyond Buddhist networks to globally and historically-minded individuals and institutions that are interested in religious, cultural and documentary heritage, and digital preservation. Email her anytime at deborah@84000.co to share your fundraising ideas.


         

Ancient Words for Modern Times

The words of the Buddha are the very heart of an ancient tradition that belongs to and merits preservation by and for all of humanity. While initial support for 84000 has come from within the Buddhist community, this is far, far more than a Buddhist project. It is an effort to prevent an entire library of texts about the science of mind and human ethics from being lost from the world forever.

These texts show nothing less than how to cultivate wisdom and compassion to achieve lasting peace and happiness. They are as relevant today as ever. We invite and welcome the support of anyone who wishes to help preserve this truly universal treasure.

 

         
 

 

【八萬四千 • 佛典傳譯】電子通訊 第七期 | 2011年 12月
         
 
親愛的朋友:

【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】實行至今,即將邁入第三個年頭。這項遠大的事業,志在藏文《大藏經》翻譯成世界主要的現代語言,使佛陀言教如同人類眾多且豐富的宗教、文化,與文學遺產一般獲得保存與延續。
 
“翻譯佛陀言教⋯⋯” 
達成重大里程碑!

百分之十(10%)的《甘珠爾(佛經)》~大約八千頁的佛陀言教,目前已按計劃進行英文翻譯。
 
在此謹向 70位創始贊助人500位佛經贊助者致以誠摯謝意!如果沒有各位的支持,這個重要里程碑無法達成。

84000資助委員會最近完成了第二輪的資助申請審批,資助確定後可以再增加 3,500-4,000頁的翻譯工作。第二輪資助的翻譯項目以及譯者名單於近期內公佈。

有關第一輪所資助的60位譯者以及49部翻譯項目,請瀏覽84000網站。
 
佛典翻譯的風氣日漸蓬勃!在第二輪的資助申請中,我們從佛教組織、寺院、和逐漸增多的大學團隊,收到21份申請書。種種跡象顯示,更多的翻譯界人士開始認識到【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】,並期待成為此一宏大譯經計畫的一員,這樣的結果著實令人感到欣慰。
         

“⋯⋯普世共享,流通世間”
  精彩預告!
 
我們計畫不久後開放【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】閱讀室,進行首次線導覽。84000閱讀室為大家提供一個免費的網上閱讀空間,以便實現我們的第二個目標 -- 讓佛陀言教普世共享,流傳世間!此次導覽代表閱讀室的開幕儀式,並在網上發佈兩部密續及多部短篇經文。這將是【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】成立以來首次與世分享的英譯佛典。 
                                    
         
 
所有閱讀室的使用者,包括學者、翻譯者、佛教徒、及任何對佛陀言教有興趣的人,都能夠在網上使用下列功能:
  • 以英文、梵文和藏文瀏覽《甘珠爾》中1,169部佛經的經題,親身體會佛陀2,500年前所談論種種引人入勝的主題。
     
  • 每部翻譯完成的佛典皆有150字摘要,提供經文內容梗概。
     
  • 在不受干擾的清靜環境中在線閱讀佛陀法語,或下載PDF線下閱讀。
     
  • 通過與譯作相連接的線上英、梵、藏三語辭彙表及主題分類系統,更深入了解經文中的關鍵辭彙、人名與地名。
有關在線導覽詳情,請關注84000的臉書網頁或通過電子郵件表明興趣。我們將為您示範閱讀室的各種功能及使用說明。
 
請觀賞【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】閱讀室的視頻預告

84000閱讀室是與藏傳佛教資源中心 (TBRC)共同合作開發。
“佛陀曾說過,在未來的末法時代,他將以佛典的形式示現為導師。包含佛陀法語的佛典,遠比佛陀的形象更為珍貴。” 
                              ~ 尊貴的嘎千仁波切
 
更多引述,請點擊這裡
 
         
 
新任北美募捐總監介紹
2011年 12月 1日, Deborah (Debbi) McGlauflin(黛比)正式
開始就任【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】的北美募捐總監。
黛比有非牟利國際募捐的成功經驗。同時,她虔信佛法,是索甲仁波切的弟子,並且是本覺會(Rigpa)的活躍成員。她在華盛頓區附近馬里蘭州安納波利斯的家中辦公。
 
黛比正準備將【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】的範圍,從佛教組織擴展到世界各地對文化、歷史、宗教、記錄傳承、和數位保存有興趣的個人與機構。如欲分享有關募款的創意,請隨時與她聯繫: deborah@84000.co
 
中文使用者,請聯繫以下任何一位代表:
香港代表何慧冰:rosalina@84000.co
台灣代表馮燕南:jain@84000.co
其他:                info@84000.co
 
         
 
古老諫言,現代啓示

藴涵佛陀法語的《大藏經》,為人類古老傳承的核心。二十三萬頁的《大藏經》,大篇幅記載了兩個半世紀以前的古代文明,也見證了人類對於智慧與精神領域鍥而不捨的探索。《大藏經》屬於全人類,並值得為全人類而保存。儘管【八萬四千•佛典傳譯】最初的支持始自佛教團體,但它遠遠超出佛教項目的範疇。
 
《大藏經》的經文都是教導眾生如何培養智慧與慈悲,以實現永久的安寧與快樂。今時今日,仍然適切實用。我們誠邀大家踴躍護持,幫助我們保存這個普世的智慧瑰寶。
 
         
 

 


Posted: 27 Dec 2011