As Buddhism spreads further in the West, numerous challenges arise to the translation of Buddhism from the institutions, language and terminology of medieval, agrarian, Asian societies to the post-modern, industrial, multi-cultural societies of the West.
Translation takes place in many contexts: oral translations of teaching by living teachers, written translations of texts, from ancient scriptures to contemporary commentaries, translations in forms and rituals, and translations in teaching methods and the organization of temples, monasteries and centers.
I have been involved, to some extent, in all these areas of translation. Lately, in my work in writtent translations, I have focused on a small set of prayers and texts simply because I wanted to see these texts in the most natural English of which I was capable.
Prayers
- Eight Thoughts of Great Individuals
- Daily Bodhisattva Vow
- Mountain Offering Ritual
- Guru Yoga Prayer
- Devotion Pierces My Heart: A Far-Reaching Cry to the Guru
- Ever-present Good's Prayer of Intention
- The Ship Which Sets Beings Free
- All the Matter in the World
- A Prayer Song to Mother Labkyi Drönma
- A Shower of Energy: A prayer to one's teacher
- The Short Vajradhara Prayer
Teaching
- NEW: Milarepa's Song to Lady Paldarboom
- Cutting Through, by Machik Lapdrön
- Dakini Song
- Recognizing Mind as the Guru
- The Sutra of the Heart of the Lady Perfection of Wisdom
- Aspirations for Mahamudra
- The Six Perfections
- Tilopa's Advice
Advice for Life
