Translation-Home page
The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua frequently reminded his disciples to use their true wisdom to translate the Sutras. He also said that if they felt something had been translated inappropriately, they could bring it up at any time and everyone could study it and discuss it together. Such open and democratic discussions allowed for more accurate translations. In this way, the style of the translation centers of the past was brought to Western countries. The Venerable Master said:
Translation should be done through consensus.
Before a nation's constitution is formally ratified, it must be read three times, and each time people are asked if they have objections. We should adopt this method in the translation of Sutras. After the translation is completed, everyone should study it and see if there are problems. Everyone's wisdom should be used in translating the Sutras. All opinions can be brought up. When we ask for opinions, we should follow the procedure for holding karmavachanas (formal Sangha meetings). That is, after the translation is read once through, everyone is asked to give their opinions and the translation is revised. After that, it is read another time and people are asked again. Then, it is read and people are asked for a final time. There must be three readings, and people must be asked three times. The text should be read slowly so that it can be heard clearly and distinctly. When the three readings are done in accord with karmavachana procedure, those who have opinions should bring them up. If there are no opinions, that means everyone is in agreement. In the future, no one can say, "This part is not translated well. It was done wrong at the time." None of us can object then. So everyone has to be responsible. Only when everyone is in unanimous agreement can the translation pass. As we do our translations here, we want to set up a pattern for the people of the future. They will have to follow our method. It won't do for one person to come out with his own translation. We are using everyone's strength to carry out this work.
Accuracy is the most important
In translating the Sutras, nothing is more important than accuracy (correctness). The translation cannot be at odds with the original text. When translating someone else's work, you must translate that person's words faithfully. You cannot add your own ideas. If the grammar is awkward, you may smooth it out, but there is no need to add your own interpretations.
Translation should be understandable
Sutra translations should be simple and clear. You don't necessarily have to use Sanskrit. If the term doesn't exist in English, then use the Sanskrit word if you must. If it does exist in English, we should use words that people in this country can understand with ease. If we use Sanskrit words everywhere, then there's no need to translate the Sutra into Chinese, and then into English. You might as well use the Sanskrit version! The purpose of translating a work is to popularize it, to make it so that people can understand it as soon as they read it. It's enough if we can do that. It should be very ordinary. If you deliberately find a very difficult word to use in the translation, people will be mystified when they read it. We should use our wisdom to investigate the matter. If a word is fitting, we can use it. That's enough. The evolution of language takes place bit by bit. People may not understand something for the time being, but gradually, after they look at it a few more times, they will come to understand. As long as the meaning is felt to be sufficient and complete, that's good enough.
Translations should encompass many interpretations
In translating the text of the Sutra, you cannot translate according to the meaning of the commentary. The text of the Sutra is like the ocean, while the commentaries are like rivers that can flow into the ocean in any way they please. You shouldn't treat the rivers as the ocean. The Sutra is alive, not dead. It is perfectly fused and unobstructed. It is not restricted to a single meaning. Any interpretation is acceptable, as long as it is logical and makes sense. Don't make it so rigid and insist that it has to be a certain way. As long as the meaning is conveyed, that's enough. Don't spend too much effort on this aspect. If you spend all your time quibbling over the words themselves, you'll get farther and farther away from the meaning and you'll never come up with a good translation. In translating Sutras, you have to be very flexible and dynamic. You can't always be so obstinate and fixed in your ideas. As long as the meaning is there, it's enough.
Translating develops wisdom
No matter who you are, if you use you wisdom to translate Sutras, your wisdom will become greater day by day. The growth of wisdom takes place day after day. If you concentrate your mind and devote yourself to studying every day, your wisdom will open up.
Use the Mind of the Buddha – impartial and objective
We must have proper views and proper knowledge when we translate Sutras, and we must maintain a sense of righteousness. You can't be partial or speak nice words to please people. You have to make quick decisions and speak with determination and courage, like a judge. We should have the spirit of a judge deciding court cases. We have to bring forth sincerity, use correct and penetrating views, and be decisive. We should translate in an objective manner and not get
caught up in the language. We have to use wisdom when we translate Sutras, without harboring the least bit of emotion. No matter whose words they are, if you think they're wrong, then at that point you have to be inflexibly just and impartial. You have to be cold and emotionless when you translate. If you listen to your emotions, you'll go wrong. Why did Shakyamuni Buddha speak this Sutra? When we translate, we have to imagine Shakyamuni Buddha's frame of mind. What was he thinking? What were his intentions at the time? We have to use our own thoughts to comprehend the principles that the Buddha expounded in the Sutras. In doing so, we will attain the wonderfully subtle meaning.
Joy of Translation
When we translate Sutras, our hearts should be filled with the joy of the Dharma. You shouldn't have thoughts of fighting. Use wisdom: Don't be indecisive. Don't use stupidity. We should think of how rare this opportunity is: "That I can take part in this Sutra Translation Assembly is truly a fortunate event that is hard to encounter in ten thousand eons. It's impossible to describe my happiness." Each time we translate a Sutra here, everyone should first very quietly recite, "Homage to the eternally dwelling Buddhas of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Dharma of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Sangha of the ten directions." That doesn't mean reciting it verbally. In your minds you should have this thought, "1 take refuge with the limitlessly limitless, infinitely infinite, eternally dwelling Triple Jewel of the ten directions to the exhaustion of empty space throughout the Dharma Realm. We hope that the Triple Jewel will aid us and enable us to have proper knowledge and proper views, and open great wisdom, so that we can translate Sutras." Every time we do the work of translating Sutras, each person should first request the aid of the Buddhas. Don't use the human mind to translate Sutras; you should use the true intention of the Buddha. When you translate, ask yourself, "Is this meaning in accord with what the Buddha meant, or is it in opposition to what the Buddha meant? At the time when the Buddha spoke this Sutra, what was his intention?' That's what you should pay attention to. Although you could say this is a false thought, if your mind is true, what you do will be genuine. If your contemplation is true, you will unite with the substance of the Triple Jewel.
Devoting their lives to translation
The work we do is not like the work of worldly people. Don't ask, "What kind of compensation will I get for doing this work? What will I gain from it in the future?' The translation work we are doing offers no worldly gains whatsoever. We are working for Buddhism entirely on a volunteer basis. We are devoting our entire lives to work for Buddhism. Therefore, we want neither money nor reputation. We're not greedy for wealth, nor are we greedy for sex, food, or sleep. In our work, we must accord with the six great principles of not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying. When we carry out this work, we don't ask for a reward, or for anything at all. We simply want to translate the Buddhist Sutras, and that is enough.
Translation should be done through consensus.
Before a nation's constitution is formally ratified, it must be read three times, and each time people are asked if they have objections. We should adopt this method in the translation of Sutras. After the translation is completed, everyone should study it and see if there are problems. Everyone's wisdom should be used in translating the Sutras. All opinions can be brought up. When we ask for opinions, we should follow the procedure for holding karmavachanas (formal Sangha meetings). That is, after the translation is read once through, everyone is asked to give their opinions and the translation is revised. After that, it is read another time and people are asked again. Then, it is read and people are asked for a final time. There must be three readings, and people must be asked three times. The text should be read slowly so that it can be heard clearly and distinctly. When the three readings are done in accord with karmavachana procedure, those who have opinions should bring them up. If there are no opinions, that means everyone is in agreement. In the future, no one can say, "This part is not translated well. It was done wrong at the time." None of us can object then. So everyone has to be responsible. Only when everyone is in unanimous agreement can the translation pass. As we do our translations here, we want to set up a pattern for the people of the future. They will have to follow our method. It won't do for one person to come out with his own translation. We are using everyone's strength to carry out this work.
Accuracy is the most important
In translating the Sutras, nothing is more important than accuracy (correctness). The translation cannot be at odds with the original text. When translating someone else's work, you must translate that person's words faithfully. You cannot add your own ideas. If the grammar is awkward, you may smooth it out, but there is no need to add your own interpretations.
Translation should be understandable
Sutra translations should be simple and clear. You don't necessarily have to use Sanskrit. If the term doesn't exist in English, then use the Sanskrit word if you must. If it does exist in English, we should use words that people in this country can understand with ease. If we use Sanskrit words everywhere, then there's no need to translate the Sutra into Chinese, and then into English. You might as well use the Sanskrit version! The purpose of translating a work is to popularize it, to make it so that people can understand it as soon as they read it. It's enough if we can do that. It should be very ordinary. If you deliberately find a very difficult word to use in the translation, people will be mystified when they read it. We should use our wisdom to investigate the matter. If a word is fitting, we can use it. That's enough. The evolution of language takes place bit by bit. People may not understand something for the time being, but gradually, after they look at it a few more times, they will come to understand. As long as the meaning is felt to be sufficient and complete, that's good enough.
Translations should encompass many interpretations
In translating the text of the Sutra, you cannot translate according to the meaning of the commentary. The text of the Sutra is like the ocean, while the commentaries are like rivers that can flow into the ocean in any way they please. You shouldn't treat the rivers as the ocean. The Sutra is alive, not dead. It is perfectly fused and unobstructed. It is not restricted to a single meaning. Any interpretation is acceptable, as long as it is logical and makes sense. Don't make it so rigid and insist that it has to be a certain way. As long as the meaning is conveyed, that's enough. Don't spend too much effort on this aspect. If you spend all your time quibbling over the words themselves, you'll get farther and farther away from the meaning and you'll never come up with a good translation. In translating Sutras, you have to be very flexible and dynamic. You can't always be so obstinate and fixed in your ideas. As long as the meaning is there, it's enough.
Translating develops wisdom
No matter who you are, if you use you wisdom to translate Sutras, your wisdom will become greater day by day. The growth of wisdom takes place day after day. If you concentrate your mind and devote yourself to studying every day, your wisdom will open up.
Use the Mind of the Buddha – impartial and objective
We must have proper views and proper knowledge when we translate Sutras, and we must maintain a sense of righteousness. You can't be partial or speak nice words to please people. You have to make quick decisions and speak with determination and courage, like a judge. We should have the spirit of a judge deciding court cases. We have to bring forth sincerity, use correct and penetrating views, and be decisive. We should translate in an objective manner and not get
caught up in the language. We have to use wisdom when we translate Sutras, without harboring the least bit of emotion. No matter whose words they are, if you think they're wrong, then at that point you have to be inflexibly just and impartial. You have to be cold and emotionless when you translate. If you listen to your emotions, you'll go wrong. Why did Shakyamuni Buddha speak this Sutra? When we translate, we have to imagine Shakyamuni Buddha's frame of mind. What was he thinking? What were his intentions at the time? We have to use our own thoughts to comprehend the principles that the Buddha expounded in the Sutras. In doing so, we will attain the wonderfully subtle meaning.
Joy of Translation
When we translate Sutras, our hearts should be filled with the joy of the Dharma. You shouldn't have thoughts of fighting. Use wisdom: Don't be indecisive. Don't use stupidity. We should think of how rare this opportunity is: "That I can take part in this Sutra Translation Assembly is truly a fortunate event that is hard to encounter in ten thousand eons. It's impossible to describe my happiness." Each time we translate a Sutra here, everyone should first very quietly recite, "Homage to the eternally dwelling Buddhas of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Dharma of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Sangha of the ten directions." That doesn't mean reciting it verbally. In your minds you should have this thought, "1 take refuge with the limitlessly limitless, infinitely infinite, eternally dwelling Triple Jewel of the ten directions to the exhaustion of empty space throughout the Dharma Realm. We hope that the Triple Jewel will aid us and enable us to have proper knowledge and proper views, and open great wisdom, so that we can translate Sutras." Every time we do the work of translating Sutras, each person should first request the aid of the Buddhas. Don't use the human mind to translate Sutras; you should use the true intention of the Buddha. When you translate, ask yourself, "Is this meaning in accord with what the Buddha meant, or is it in opposition to what the Buddha meant? At the time when the Buddha spoke this Sutra, what was his intention?' That's what you should pay attention to. Although you could say this is a false thought, if your mind is true, what you do will be genuine. If your contemplation is true, you will unite with the substance of the Triple Jewel.
Devoting their lives to translation
The work we do is not like the work of worldly people. Don't ask, "What kind of compensation will I get for doing this work? What will I gain from it in the future?' The translation work we are doing offers no worldly gains whatsoever. We are working for Buddhism entirely on a volunteer basis. We are devoting our entire lives to work for Buddhism. Therefore, we want neither money nor reputation. We're not greedy for wealth, nor are we greedy for sex, food, or sleep. In our work, we must accord with the six great principles of not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying. When we carry out this work, we don't ask for a reward, or for anything at all. We simply want to translate the Buddhist Sutras, and that is enough.