Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts

The Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts was the first organization that the Khyentse Foundation formally partnered with to launch a Tibetan Buddhist scripture translation project. The translation project along with translation talent training was officially launched in 2014. Over the past five years, as part of this project, the Dharma Drum Institute has offered a range of different courses in Tibetan Buddhist scriptures and translation, as well as courses in Chinese Buddhist scriptures for Tibetan scholars. It is hoped that in the near future we will have nurtured talented translators who can contribute to this project. For more information, please visit this website.

Fa-kuang Institute of Buddhist Studies

The Fa-kuang Institute of Buddhist Studies is led by senior scholar Professor Hsiao Chin-sung. This leading academic institute provides many courses on Pali, Sanskrit and Tibetan language courses and Buddhist teachings for the general public. In response to this translation project, since 2014 Professor Hsiao has established the Prajna Workshop to foster translation talent. With the support of the Foundation, the Fa-kuang Institute of Buddhist Studies has started promoting the “Tibetan Translation Talent Training Award Program.” Please visit this website for information about the award program.

84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha

In 2009, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche initiated a historic conference which brought together more than 50 of the world’s leading Tibetan Buddhist teachers, translators, and academics to discuss the translation of Buddhist canons. At the conference it was recognized that more than 95% of the Tibetan Buddhist canon had not been translated into modern languages. Yet at the same time, due to the rapid decline in the knowledge of classical Buddhist languages and in the number of qualified scholars, we were in danger of losing this cultural heritage and spiritual legacy. As a result, led by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and sponsored by Khyentse Foundation, 84000 was officially launched in 2010. Its vision is to translate the Tibetan Buddhist canon into modern languages, with English being its primary focus.

The Kumarajiva Project is looking forward to learning from the 84000 experience, particularly in terms of operational planning, which is a crucial part of establishing the foundation in the early stages. In the future, the two Buddhist translation initiatives will continue to work together in translating the Tibetan Buddhist canon into Chinese and English, based on their shared vision of upholding the dharma.

For more info on 84000, please visit this website.