Translating Biographical and Historical Materials

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:58-07:00

This workshop addresses the motivation and practical considerations of translating historical and biographical works. Amelia Hall talks about her experience with the construction and translation of a namtar (Wyl. rnam thar, hagiography) and the idiosyncrasies of balancing the needs of the academy and the world of spiritual practitioners as it relates to such a genre. Kurtis Schaeffer walks us through the practical decisions he made while producing a translation of an eighteenth century text to keep his specific audience inspired and engaged. Dan Martin offers a perspective about dating texts in an historical context using available resources.

Translating Biographical and Historical MaterialsMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:58-07:00

Translating Philosophical Materials A

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:58-07:00

Sarah McClintock and Thomas Doctor both engage with issues of the possibility or impossibility of translation and Dorji Wangchuck considers translation theory and practice and approaches to the ideas of translation and transmission. As all three of these speakers are well-known scholars of Tibetan Buddhism and philosophers, this session is a special opportunity to observe their thoughts and interactions, and learn from their ideas.

Translating Philosophical Materials AMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:58-07:00

Translating Spiritual Instructions

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

This workshop highlights the complex and nuanced process of translation and interpretation of key terms for spiritual instructions. Sangye Khandro presents examples of upadeśa, or spiritual instructions, so that the audience may reflect upon the importance of the translator’s expert status and the necessity of working closely with lineage masters to accomplish translation work. Peter Alan Roberts shares advice he wishes he could have shared with his younger self relating to the translation of oral instructions, and Sarah Harding speaks on the differences of translation choice between gdams ngag, man ngag, and zhal gdams, and challenges the publishing of such […]

Translating Spiritual InstructionsMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

Translating Vajrayana Commentarial Materials

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

Presenters approach the delicate process of translating Vajrayana commentaries and consider the importance of the combination of study and practice to support this kind of work. Lama Chonam speaks about receiving teachings on these commentaries in order to understand the deep meaning of terms. Jake Dalton brings light to the historical context as a way to approach the differences that might appear between commentaries of the same root text, and Elizabeth Callahan talks about the importance of using multiple commentaries to approach root texts so that multiple meanings emerge in the translation.

Translating Vajrayana Commentarial MaterialsMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

Translating Canonical Materials: Sutra

Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

Leading members of the 84000 Project John Canti, Andreas Doctor, and Tom Tillemans speak about the scope of the project and issues that arise when translating canonical materials: multiple source texts, working from translations to make an English version, the difficulty of interpreting the intended literary style of the source materials, and the importance of the 84000 Project to the transmission of the dharma to the West.

Translating Canonical Materials: SutraMarcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00

Translating Canonical Materials: Tantra

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:44:37-06:00

This session begins with Tom Yarnall giving a brief overview of the extent of the canonical literature in the Tibetan tradition which leads into Christian Wedemeyer’s consideration of the audience of the translations of such esoteric materials. He then discusses issues of secrecy, transgressive language, rendering mantras, and refining of terminology. David Gray tries to untie particular knots that he has encountered when translating collaboratively for the 84000 Project and discusses specific textual criticism related to this work. Tom Yarnall then speaks on the need to acknowledge the intertextuality and overlapping constructs of these canonical materials.

Translating Canonical Materials: TantraMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:44:37-06:00

Translating Poetic and Inspirational Materials

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:45:26-06:00

Poetic and inspirational materials exist as a place where culture emerges creating a challenge for the translator to capture both the meaning and the psychological effect of the literature in the target language. Andrew Quintman begins this workshop with a theoretical discussion of how the characteristics and structure of a traditional song of devotion give clues about indigenous conceptions of poetry in the Tibetan tradition. Holly Gayley works through various grammatical structures and literary conventions, like metaphor and parallelism, to illustrate the scope of possibility in conveying meaning. Finally, Wulstan Fletcher guides the group through the challenge of capturing the […]

Translating Poetic and Inspirational MaterialsMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:45:26-06:00

Translating Philosophical Materials B

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:46:16-06:00

This session offers advice for translators working with philosophical materials. John Dunne presents a specific problem of finding that your good translation has gone bad. Douglas Duckworth speaks about collaborative translation and its rewards while offering advice about the process as it relates specifically to philosophical texts, and Klaus-Dieter Mathes discusses specific phrases and their meaning as they support one’s comprehension of philosophical concepts.

Translating Philosophical Materials BMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:46:16-06:00

Translating Sadhanas and Rituals

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:47:03-06:00

Discussing the translation of the genre of sadhana and ritual materials, presenters consider particular challenges and rewards. Stephen Gethin talks about accuracy and precision as they relate to sadhana readership and considers the demand for chantability of the ritual texts in English. Anne Klein follows this by considering the somatic and cognitive experience of practice, melody as transmission, and the possible trade-offs in the process. Larry Mermelstein speaks about specific choices in translation that elicit somatic experience during the practice of sadhana and ritual.

Translating Sadhanas and RitualsMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:47:03-06:00

Translating Abhidharma Materials

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:47:58-06:00

Is Abhidharma just a collection of dry, boring lists? Presenters in this workshop comment on the need for Abhidharma literature as the basis of both morality and advanced meditation practice when bringing Tibetan Buddhism to a Western setting. Art Engle presents the need for a viable English translation from original source texts of the Abhidharmakośakārikā and Abhidharmasamuccaya. Ian Coghlan discusses terms, grammar, and syntax related to meditative states and the subtlety involved in creating satisfactory, standard English terms for this material. Gyurme Dorje presents short passages from Abhidharmakośa and traces the illusion of terminology and taxonomy through Tibetan traditions.

Translating Abhidharma MaterialsMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:47:58-06:00