Uncontrived Elegance in Tibetan Songs
Migmar Lama2022-11-16T23:40:42-07:00John Canti (Padmakara, 84000) and Sarah Harding (Tsadra Foundation) explore “uncontrived elegance” in poetry and song in Tibetan literature. Compared to the purportedly spontaneous composition of the original, is a translation ever uncontrived? John draws on examples from Dudjom Lingpa and Shabkar to illustrate the possibilities of translation and the evocative dimensions that can be expressed based on the source literature. Sarah suggests that a smooth, readable translation, facilitating ease of comprehension, may be the best we can do. After a lively discussion, Sarah leads the group in translating a short line of text to illustrate their points.
Reflections on the Translation Process
Migmar Lama2022-11-16T23:40:44-07:00Jules Levinson (Independent), John Canti (Padmakara, 84000), Dominique Townsend (Bard), Lama Jabb (Oxford), Sarah Harding (Tsadra Foundation), and Nancy Lin (84000) share their reflections about the process of oral and written translation from some of the first instances of Tibetan language being rendered into English in the United States through the first Lotsawa Translation Workshop in 2018. The discussion weaves through topics like facing the fear of “imposter syndrome” as part of the process of translation, the importance of “kindness to the reader”, and how translators relate to the concept of form. The speakers create a gentle, encouraging, and humorous […]
Translations in Transmission
Marcus Perman2022-10-30T21:55:05-06:00In this panel a diverse group of experienced practitioner/scholar/translators discuss the idea of transmission and the use of translations in the transmission process. Sarah Harding discusses the many complications of language that have entered into our understanding of “transmission,” and suggests that we make clearer what we mean when we talk about transmission and limit ourselves to things we can actually talk about. Ringu Tulku presents the meaning of “transmission,” in the context of this conference, as being about the whole system of study and practice. He highlights the importance of khrid over and above dbang and lung. He says […]
Translation: Theory and Praxis
Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:57-07:00In this first plenary panel of the 2014 conference, Translation: Theory & Praxis, Thupten Jinpa shares a bit about what Tibetans themselves have thought about and written about translation. Roger Jackson discusses some of the projects he has worked on over the years and gives examples of the problems that translators face. Sarah Harding delves into problems of intention and layers of interpretation, as well as the importance of translation and translators.
Translating Spiritual Instructions
Marcus Perman2022-11-16T23:36:59-07:00This 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 […]
