“Buddhism has made a huge impact on my life. If we want it to thrive, especially in America and the West, it needs more exposure and awareness,” says Dr. Josh Capitanio, a Buddhist scholar and monthly donor to 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. “By translating the scriptures into English, 84000 is doing the most important thing we can do to set up the future of Buddhism in the West.”
As a monthly donor, Josh belongs to 84000’s Give Each Month (GEM) Mandala—a community of thousands of generous, compassionate, and committed people from more than 46 countries around the world. The GEM Mandala was initiated in September to recognize the importance of our recurring donors in supporting our mission: to translate the entire Tibetan Buddhist canon for the open and curious, and to make it freely accessible for all, now and into the future.
Josh became interested in Buddhism while in high school, more than 30 years ago. He studied on his own and later spent time in several Buddhist monasteries in Asia, and then pursued Buddhist Studies as a college student. He received his PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught Buddhist Studies for several years as a professor at the University of the West, located in Los Angeles County. He currently serves as the librarian for Asian and religious studies at Stanford University in Northern California as well as works as a translator, primarily for Lotsawa House.
Josh first learned about 84000 while teaching Buddhist Studies at the University of the West and received his first grant to do translation work from 84000. “As I began doing translation work, I realized that there are so many scriptures, texts, and commentaries that are really unexplored, and the ones that make it to the mainstream are actually a small selection.
“It’s by looking at the whole collection together that you begin to see the bigger picture of what Buddhism has meant to people throughout the centuries,” he said.
With two kids and a full-time job, working on translations in his spare time, Josh considers himself a “householder” who gives donations to 84000 along with Dharma centers and teachers where he can. “As someone who’s not a renunciant, I believe one of most important things we can do to support the Dharma is to donate to practitioners who work in the Dharma full time. The teachings say to give our own resources in support of Dharma practitioners and that spreading Dharma is one of the most meritorious things we can do.”
Josh says that giving each month and providing continuous support is the best way to support 84000, helping it to grow by hiring full-time translators and editors, and supporting 84000’s operations. “I’m fortunate to be able to give a modest donation regularly. I think that a regular inflow of support provides a stable and impactful resource for the organization.”
He added: “84000 is working to produce quality translations and glossaries—it’s a huge vision and something that will have important implications for Buddhism hundreds and thousands of years down the line.”
Learn more about our Give Each Month (GEM) program and join our GEM Mandala!
If you are inspired by Josh’s story, please write to us at readers@84000.co and tell us about your own 84000 experience!
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