The Conference of Translators 2008 was a deeply meaningful and joyful event. Over 140 translators gathered for three days of provocative dialogue among peers regarding such topics as excellence in translation; language issues and dilemmas; personal projects and research; translation resources and technology; pedagogy, training, and mentorship; and safeguarding the future of translation in the West. Please check back for more detailed reports and gallery of photos, which we will post soon.

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Acknowledgments Conference of Translators 2008

Lotsāwa Times, Volume III presents a few brief highlights from the Conference of Translators 2008. Light of Berotsana has not yet had an opportunity to report fully on the Conference, and as a result we have not yet adequately thanked those whose planning and coordination efforts created this extremely productive and meaningful event. Having briefly thanked them both in Lotsāwa Times, I would also like to take the opportunity here to publicly acknowledge and thank both Susan Skjei and Aaron Stern for bringing their many years of expertise in conference development and facilitation to this landmark and moving event. Their skillful guidance helped provide an atmosphere of learning and inclusion while allowing conversations to quickly deepen and address participants’ areas of concern. We deeply appreciate their dedication and potent contributions to ensuring the excellence, value, and positive outcomes for everyone involved. In this same vein, we would like to thank our illustrious advisory committee comprised of Don Lopez, Anne Klein, Elizabeth Callahan, Elizabeth Napper, and Shashi Reitz who offered unflagging attention to the development of our program content and structure over the course of a year.  

The overall success of the Conference rested upon the efforts of many. The devotion, brilliance, heart, and sacrifice brought to bringing the Buddhadharma into the English language was strikingly visible in the many translators, and lamas who guide them, whose presence created a Conference of deep meaning and power. The Boulder Shambhala Center agreed to lease their beautiful building to us for three entire days, and Director Janet Solyntjes and Practice and Study Coordinators Cynthia Kneen and Jim Fladmark offered unyielding logistical and moral support. The Tsadra Foundation facilitated the travel, lodging, and attendance of their sizable group of translators insuring the depth, breadth, and enduring benefit of the gathering. Beautiful photo documentation of the Conference was provided by Marv Ross and Laura Durand, and painstaking audio and video production was provided by Thomas Lofstrom with the assistance of Cory Leistikow and Vicki Genson. Mary Sweet and Sweet Design provided the lovely graphics and technical support for our website, Conference program, and evocative History Line. A stimulating marketplace was stocked by the generosity of Snow Lion, Shambhala, Wisdom, Rangjung Yeshe, Dharmachakra, and Mirror of Wisdom Publishers; the Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center; the Tibetan Language Institute; The Tibetan and Himalayan Library; Nitartha-Sambhota; Nālandā Translation Committee; Alexander Berzin; Suzanna Schefczyk; and Tibet World Music.

Lastly, the Conference would have known only chaos but for the organizational efforts of Jean Atwood and the Atwood Company; the luscious sustenance provided by Ronnie Rice, head caterer of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse; and the indefatigable efforts of our stellar crew of volunteers: Troy Omafray, Laura Durand, Alison Campbell, Adam Krug, Cory Leistikow, Miguel Sawaya, Chip Horner, Jordan Leahy, Deidre Goldberg, Kay Henry, Juliana Ayres-Doherty, Susan Neumeier, Keith LaCoste, and Shashi and Ila Reitz. Their steady stream of gentle coordination and re-setting of the environment allowed for a seamless, gentle flow. Our gratitude is boundless to all those who joined together to produce this pivotal, historic event.