Stories on Translators

Translator’s Path Takes Her From Nepali Village to Interpreter for Chӧkyi Nyima Rinpoche Catherine Dalton was 18 years old in 1998 when she first traveled to Nepal to teach English to Nepali children in a remote Buddhist village and fulfilled a childhood wish to visit Asia. She became interested in Buddhism while spending time at the local monastery. Back in the U.S., in her last semester of college, she took a class in Buddhist Madhyamaka philosophy. That class got her hooked.

We sat down recently with Dr. Fumi Yao, the translator of “The Chapter on Medicines,” to learn more about how she came to specialize in the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, what she has learned about the differences and similarities across various traditions’ Vinaya literature, and how broad the notion of “medicine” may have been in ancient India.

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing away of one of our most expert and productive translators, Dr. Gyurme Dorje. John Canti, our Editorial Co-Director, pays tribute to Gyurme's life, personal qualities, and achievements as a prolific and dedicated translator.

Professor Jens Braarvig talks to us about his translation of ‘The Miraculous Play of Mañjuśri' - a Mahāyāna sūtra that unfolds within a story about a courtesan and a wealthy, banker’s son - as well as the importance of language and philology in Buddhist studies.

Watch a video and read the detailed exchanges between senior scholars of the tradition and 84000's editors and translators.

In a recent message to translators, Rinpoche paid tribute to our translators and emphasized on the importance of motivation.

Video interview of Julia Stenzel from Sakya Pandita Translation Group, on the "Ākāśagarbha Sūtra" and its translation process.

Catherine Dalton shares about her experience working on an extensive account of the life and deeds of the Buddha, known as "The Play in Full."

Learn about how the Buddha deals with the violation of moral ethics in this featured translation.

Have questions about Buddhist canons and the history of their development? Learn more from John Canti and Peter Skilling.

Interview with Ina Bieler of Garchen Buddhist Institute, who has been working on a Kangyur text known as <The Sūtra on Purifying Karmic Obscurations>.