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Working with Dharma Translators
I have worked with Sangye Khandro since 1989 as a transcriber and editor of her inspiring and accurate translations of the sacred dharma. We have worked together on many transcriptions of oral commentaries, practice liturgies, and published manuscripts. I have known Lama Chönam since he arrived in the U.S. and have been his immigration advocate, friend, co-worker, and student. We’ve enjoyed many a conversation regarding the many choices of grammar, vocabulary, and formatting in rendering a Tibetan pecha into an English-language book. Together, their practice-based experience and knowledge combine to lead one of the best dharma translation groups on the planet.
I have experienced firsthand many times the amazing process which takes place from the first day a translator picks up that first page of the pecha—sacred Tibetan scripture—to the final day of the finished product which goes out to benefit the English-speaking dharma world. First of all, the work is started with the motivation that it will benefit all sentient beings. Each Tibetan word and phrase is gone over carefully and most often discussed countless times to render the best, most understandable meaning for the reader.
A rough draft is prepared after months or years of study and practice. This involves copious hours at a computer and may include numerous interviews with various learned Tibetan teachers and scholars regarding meaning. The rough draft is then edited to make changes to punctuation, spelling, and grammar while being extremely careful regarding any possible changes to meaning.
Another draft is prepared, searching for words that better illuminate meaning and understanding: and changes are made to improve meaning, flow, and continuity of the text.
Once final changes have been made, book is typeset and the final galleys are sent to the editor for one last read through, which of course may take many, many hours depending upon the length of the text. At some point in the process, the translators also discuss the cover design and internal art with the publisher.
Last but certainly not least, all the work is dedicated for the benefit of beings by all parties involved.
At this point, maybe six months, nine months, or years have passed preparing a book that you will read in two or three weeks and that will have an impact that may change your life forever. One phrase or one sentence may shake the foundations of your perception and propel you into an entirely new phase of understanding the nature of reality. The story of a great saint may bring tears to your eyes, while inspiring you to practice on a more regular basis. A dharma book may simply help you move a little bit, one step at a time, on the path to truth.
And all this comes about due to the relentless, never-ending work of the translators’ striving to bring you their very best efforts, knowing how important that one word, one phrase, one sentence might become for some earnest practitioner or student of the dharma.
During dharma events in the fresh, exciting moment of transmission, we all want to give generously of our resources. Our hearts are open, and we do our best to share what we can with the teachers and the translators. I’d like you to think about the other five and a half months, eight months, or eleven months of the year that it took to prepare the text you just read in two weeks and will cherish and study for the rest of your life. These dharma translators need our support on a regular basis to continue their work. After all, they’re working for us—ultimately, for our own enlightenment. As non-Tibetan-speaking Buddhist practitioners and students, where would we be without the translators?
It’s a privilege and an honor—and my great good fortune—to work with the Light of Berotsana Translation Group. It’s your great good fortune to ponder and practice the fruits of their labors. Please consider supporting Light of Berotsana on a regular basis with your tax-deductible donations.
Lama Chonam
Thank you,
Kay Henry
