Senior scholars from all four Tibetan Buddhist traditions, along with 84000's editors and translators, met in Bodhgaya at our first translation seminar in October 2013 to discuss the best way to translate Buddhist texts.
The three day seminar involved many honest exchanges and the offering of invaluable advice. For the benefit of Dharma translators, scholars, as well as everyone who is interested, we are pleased to share the transcripts of these in-depth discussions in English and Tibetan.Please download the speeches using the links below:
- Opening Speeches by Seminar Advisors
- Advice from the Traditional Scholars
- Presentations from 84000
- Concluding speeches by Traditional Scholars
- Closing speeches by Seminar Advisors
Get a taste of the seminar by having a look at Sarah K. C. Wilkinson’s Tricycle article, What's in a Word? The trials of a major effort to translate Tibetan scripture into English, in which she describes her take on the seminar as a fly on the wall:
For example, the Sanskrit term dharmadhatu is translated in many different ways. That first afternoon, I found myself listening in on a heated debate about how that word alone was making it difficult for the translators to progress in a way that felt uniform. The back-and-forth went something like this... [Read more]
The seminar was a great success, paving the way for the ongoing collaboration and participation among the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It was agreed that, as Samdhong Rinpoche stated, “It is a risky business, but it’s a risk that Buddhist scholars have to take.” The seminar concluded with each of the senior scholars pledging their earnest commitment to the success of 84000.We would like to thank the following people for their kind assistance in preparing the transcripts: Khenpo Choying Dorjee, Khenpo Mriti, Khenpo Phuntsok Namgyal, Khenpo Sonam Phuntsho, Khenpo Sonam Tsewang, Lopon Pema Longdrol, Raktrul Ngawang Kunga Rinpoche (Do Tulku), Sithar Samdup, Sonam Jamtsho, Yosel Nima, Andreas Doctor, Ben Tan, Catherine Dalton, Heidrun Köppl, Jeanette Ng, Julie Jay, Sarah K. C. Wilkinson, Thomas Doctor, Ushnisha Ng, and many others.