Buddhist Translations: Problems and Perspectives

The last few decades indicate a growing interest the world over to know more about Buddhism in the way it developed and is practised in the Tibetan tradition. The availability of a large number of translations of Tibetan Buddhist literature can be attributed to this growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism. The task of transmitting truths embedded in an old language like Tibetan to a modern one like English presents enormous problems. The history of translation of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit and Tibetan in various phases had been marked by the imposition of Western conceptual scheme upon Buddhist material. The result has been distortion to a greater or lesser extent of the original genuine Buddhist message. Other factors too have been responsible for inaccurate translations. The goal should, however, be to ensure translations which will speak with genuine Buddhist voice in a language and style comprehensible to the average educated reader. Contributions to the volume by scholars both from India and abroad working on translations of Buddhist texts look at the various facets of the problems as experienced by them. The contributions in the volume focus on constraints that translators face and steps and inputs required to facilitate achievement of the desired goal. About the Author From 1972 until March 211 Lama Doboom Tulku worked in various academic, cultural and administrative institutions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is currently engaged in inter-religious and cross-cultural activities through art and culture, as the Founder Managing Trustee of World Buddhist Culture Trust (www.wbct.org).