Returning to the Source

In March 2009, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse delivered a stirring message to a gathering of Tibetan Buddhist translators, urging them to reconsider their priorities for the future. translator Adam Pearcey reports on a conference that left those who attended with enough work for the next twenty-five years—and beyond.

For five days in March, several Robert Thurman and Gene Smith—so many and many of the world’s leading Tibetan luminaries, in fact, that some of us worried Buddhist translators came together at the that an act of sabotage or a stray missile splendid Deer Park Institute in the Himalayan might set back the transmission of the foothills of Northern India for Translating to the West by several decades. the Words of the Buddha, an impeccably organized conference that was several years But, above all, there was Dzongsar in the planning. The aim was to discuss the Khyentse Rinpoche’s defining and current state and future direction of Tibetan momentous keynote speech. Standing Buddhist translation, but as we arrived before the Institute’s magical few of us had any idea what to expect. statue, modelled on one of the most sacred images in , he announced: From the very beginning, however, it was “The stakes are high. It’s our generation clear that this would be an extraordinary who will shoulder the responsibility for The conference was event. For one thing, there was our ensuring that the Buddhadharma continues held at Deer Park spontaneous audience with the Gyalwang to flourish in the world. We need to make Institute in Bir, northern while en route to Bir. Then, a thorough and effective plan for the India, against the there was the unprecedented gathering of future, and we must put it into action.” dramatic backdrop illustrious lamas and translators, including of the Dhauladar Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Pema Both Khyentse Rinpoche and the conference Himalayan ranges. Wangyal Rinpoche, Dzigar Kongtrul chairman, Pönlop Rinpoche, Photograph courtesy Rinpoche, Doboom Tulku Rinpoche, Orgyen wasted no time in revealing what that of David Kittelstrom Tobgyal Rinpoche, Ven. Matthieu Ricard, plan would be. Rather than focus on the

58 | august 2009 | VIEW works of Tibetan masters—as we had all more than those of the Buddha... Today, largely been doing up to that point—they as a result, our vision is quite narrow, suggested we must turn our collective and instead of dedicating our limited attention and resources to the vast resources to translating the ‘Words of the , comprised of the Buddha’, we pour them into translating , the ‘Words of the Buddha’, and the teachings of individual gurus, the Tengyur, the commentaries (shastra their biographies, their long-life prayers, in ) of the great Indian masters. and prayers for the propagation of the teachings of individual schools.” Khyentse Rinpoche told us frankly: “If I were given the chance to set our priorities, Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche, in his speech, what would be the top of my list? Without told us: “It would be quite ironic to claim doubt I would have to say that the teachings to be a Buddhist but have no idea what Top: Dzongsar Khyentse of the Buddha—the —should take the Buddha taught.” It is therefore crucial, Rinpoche sets the tone for precedence over the shastras. Then, as he said, that western Buddhists have the conference with his the shastras written by Indian authors are access to the words of the Buddha. momentous keynote speech. more authoritative and carry more weight, Above: Translators from I would say that they should be translated Later in the week, His Holiness the Dalai around the world vote to set before those of the Tibetan authors.” also spoke to us of the importance five, twenty-five and of a return to the Buddha’s own words and hundred-year goals. “Painful as it is for me to admit,” he especially the classical Indian commentaries. Photographs courtesy continued, “Tibetans often promote Candid as ever, he explained that the of John Solomon the teachings of their own teachers far writings of the Indian masters contained

view | translators’ conference | 59 in the Tengyur are indispensable aids to this time on video, he went on to say that “The stakes are high. It’s understanding the words of the Buddha, his group would commit to translate the and more applicable to the modern world entire section of the Kangyur. This our generation who will than the works of later Tibetan teachers. precipitated a unique wave of ‘bidding’, “Tibetan authors,” he said, “often took as other lamas made similar commitments shoulder the responsibility it for granted that their writings would on behalf of their groups and individual be read by Buddhists, whereas the Indian translators volunteered to work on particular for ensuring that the masters never took that for granted, texts. Buoyed and emboldened by all leading to a big difference in how their these pledges, which made the plan seem Buddhadharma continues teachings were presented... Indian masters, that much more realistic and achievable, like , Dignaga and Dharmakirti, we somehow set a goal of translating to flourish in the world. presented the Buddha’s teaching through the entire Kangyur, and a substantial reasoning and logic, which is why they portion of the Tengyur and related Tibetan We need to make a are so relevant to today’s world, in which commentaries—amounting to perhaps as many people are sceptical about religion.” many as two hundred large volumes in thorough and effective total—within the next twenty-five years. Excitement was generated on the second day plan for the future, of the conference when we received a letter Outside the plenary sessions there were from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche announcing group discussions on issues like translator and we must put it into that his Translation training, resources, funding and peer review. Committee would appoint fifteen full-time Many of these topics were also addressed action.” translators to the project of translating the informally, during mealtimes and especially Tibetan canon. Then, in a second message, on the long bus rides to and from Himachal Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

60 | august 2009 | VIEW Pradesh. There was obviously much to talk From start to finish, everything had gone about and far too little time to cover it all auspiciously, and there were indications adequately, but steps were taken towards of greater collaboration among translators establishing what Dzongsar Khyentse than ever before. In his closing remarks, Rinpoche called “an ongoing conference... Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche told us that that never closes because all the attendees the conference had made the importance of continue to consult and work together.” translating the Kangyur and Tengyur more vivid and obvious. This itself, he said, had As the days unfolded, there was a growing been a genuine accomplishment. In a manner sense that we were witnessing history in the befitting the heirs of the Rimé movement, making, an impression that had little to do the lamas had argued for a shifting of with the reporters and photographers, the priorities, and we had all been convinced. team of bloggers instant updates on The decision to host the conference in India our progress via the internet, or the slightly now made perfect sense: we were, in every incongruous Bhutanese television crew clad way, returning to the source of the Dharma. in their traditional robes and knee-length Above: Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche addresses socks. By the close of proceedings, we had Photograph courtesy of Corey Kohn the conference. It is crucial for western created something provisionally called the Buddhists to have access to the words of Buddhist Literary Heritage Project, with the Buddha in their own languages, he told Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, after repeated translators. requests, agreeing to be its leader. We had Photograph courtesy of John Solomon finalized goals for the next five, twenty-five and one hundred years, and drawn up a long Opposite: Conference participants in front of a list of pledges from the various translators replica of one of Tibet’s most sacred images of and groups involved. Messages of support Manjushri. The lamas seated in the row second had come from the president of Taiwan and from the back are (from left to right): the prime minister of Bhutan, and more Kalsang Gyaltsen, Doboom Tulku Rinpoche, than eleven thousand people had signed Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse an online petition expressing their gratitude Rinpoche, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche and Tulku for our work. At the precise moment that Pema Wangyal Rinpoche. we completed our conference resolutions, a Photograph courtesy of Matthieu Ricard clap of thunder resounded loudly overhead.

The Goals of the Buddhist Conference Literary Heritage Project Resolutions

100-Year Vision We resolve to make every effort to invite We resolve and request that the To translate and make universally the participation of the masters and Khyentse Foundation provides accessible the Buddhist literary heritage. holders of all lineages, and to invite the administrative support for the many translators who were not present in initial phases of this project. 25-Year Goal this conference to join us in this effort. To translate and make accessible all of We resolve to develop all the the Kangyur and related volumes of the We resolve that the interim director of tools and resources necessary Tengyur and Tibetan commentaries. the Buddhist Literary Heritage Project to achieve the goals decided shall be Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. on in this conference. 5-Year Goal To translate and publish a representative We humbly request Dzongsar Khyentse We resolve to undertake this project sample of the Kangyur, Tengyur and Rinpoche to select, in consultation with in the spirit of universal Buddhist Tibetan commentaries, and to establish key advisors, the leaders and members of fellowship, drawing on the the infrastructure and resources necessary the working committees who will create wisdom of accomplished masters to accomplish the long-term vision. the structures necessary for this project. throughout the Buddhist world.

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