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Lotsawa Training 1
Lesson 1: Do You Want
to be a Lotsawa? So you think you want to be a
lotsawa. What does it take? What skills should such a person have? Obviously, a command of Tibetan is essential, but that
is not enough by any means. The ideal neo-lotsawa, translating
Dharma from Tibetan into English, would possess the following: The seventh requirement is arguably
the most important, and there are many other qualities we could have added, but let’s now focus on each of these in
turn. 1. Fluency in Spoken
Tibetan Anyone even vaguely familiar
with the characteristics of the Tibetan language will know that spoken Tibetan is not at all homogenous. There are, in fact,
many “spoken Tibetan”s. First of all, there is a distinction between the technical language of the Dharma (chos
skad) and the colloquial language spoken by ordinary Tibetans in everyday situations (phal skad).
Then, of course, colloquial Tibetan itself must not be thought of as uniform. Not only does pronunciation vary from
region to region, but many words do too; making it possible to speak of, for example, Amdo dialect or Kham dialect, as if
they were distinct languages in their own right. These regional variations are also detectable, to some extent, in any Dharma
teaching, and so there is really no such thing as pure ‘Dharma Tibetan’. Ideally, you should aim for some
familiarity with all forms of spoken Tibetan. If there is a particular teacher for whom you will be translating, then of course
concentrate on his or her particular style of spoken Tibetan, but, we would argue that it is always best to begin your studies
with the form of Tibetan known as ‘settlement dialect’ (gzhis chags skad). Settlement Dialect The most widely used and understood
form of Tibetan spoken today is that which has developed among the exiled community, especially in India and Nepal. It is
sometimes referred to as ‘Lhasa dialect,’ since it is more closely related to the Central Tibetan dialect than
to Eastern Tibetan or Amdo. That said, it differs considerably from the Lhasa Dialect as it was spoken in the capital before
1959. Many students of spoken Tibetan
are struck by the difference between colloquial and Dharma Tibetan. When they realize that a good command of the former does
not guarantee an understanding of the latter, they question why a trainee-translator should spend time learning basic conversation.
Of course, it is possible to function perfectly well as a translator without total fluency in colloquial Tibetan, and many
translators do, but it is still relevant. Lamas often use colloquial words and expressions in their teachings, when telling
stories for example. What’s more, as a translator, you will need to translate people’s questions, and you will
find this much easier if you have a basic command of the spoken language. 2. Fluency in Reading
Tibetan As a translator of Dharma, you
will mostly be reading what has come to be known as ‘Classical Tibetan’. This term serves to distinguish the older
form of written Tibetan from the innovative, post-1959 style known as ‘Modern Literary Tibetan’, which is mostly
used in political writings and newspaper articles. In spite of its name, ‘Classical
Tibetan’ is still widely used today. Once again, it is not really homogenous, but consists of various styles corresponding
to particular periods in history, and different literary genres. It is worthwhile knowing some of the characteristics of the
more common styles. It is also helpful to know some
modern written Tibetan. Not surprisingly, however, there is not a single style here either. Broadly speaking, there are two:
one that is being developed in India, and which has been influenced by English and Hindi; and one that is being developed
within Tibet and China that exhibits Chinese influence. We should also mention at this
point that a number of different scripts are used to write Tibetan. In these modern times, most texts are published using
the script known as “U-chen”, which was traditionally used in wood-block printing. Even so, it is helpful to learn
the various forms of cursive, or U-mé, script. Tibetan handwriting is especially challenging, and also comes in numerous shapes
and sizes. 3. Memory Skills Translation, particularly oral
translation, is an art in itself. As many people realize when they attempt it for the first time, translation is not simply
a matter of having the necessary linguistic skills. Oral translators must also be able to concentrate intently, retain large
amounts of information, and switch back and forth between two languages with formidable dexterity. Most oral translation from Tibetan
is not simultaneous, which is more common among other forms of interpretation. It is more likely that the translator will
have to translate during pauses in the teacher’s discourse, a form of interpreting known as “consecutive.”
In extreme cases, teachers may pause only once every ten or fifteen minutes, and on occasion they have been known to go on
for much longer. When you consider that information is held in the short-term memory for an average of 10 to 30 seconds, you
will appreciate the difficulty of the interpreter’s task. 4. Clear and fluent communication As an oral translator you will
frequently need to express complex notions clearly and accurately. In doing so, a fluent command of English (or whichever
language you are translating into) is a real advantage. This is an important part of your task! It is not enough simply for
you to understand what is being said, the entire purpose of translation is to communicate that understanding to others. 5. A Broad Knowledge
of the Dharma In a field as vast and complex
as the Buddhadharma, many terms and ideas are difficult to translate unless you have some prior knowledge of their meaning,
or the context in which they are used. In order to gain this knowledge you need to study widely, consulting Tibetan original
sources as well as secondary ones. Given the vastness of the teachings, you will not be able to master every area before you
begin translating, but you can certainly ground yourself in the basics. ‘Knowledge’ here
should be taken to include some first-hand experience developed through meditation practice. 6. Specialist Vocabulary Even within Buddhism, texts on
topics such as logic or Madhyamika employ technical vocabulary that must be learned. Among non-Dharma topics, two of the most
frequently discussed among Tibetans today, are politics (for obvious reasons) and science. Most talks by His Holiness the
Dalai Lama, will include some reference to these topics, and will be incomprehensible to anyone unfamiliar with the basic
terms. Click here to go to the Specialist Terminology page. 7. A Positive Attitude Translators need to work hard.
Whilst interpreting for a teacher, you are required to maintain concentration 100% of the time. Talks often last for several
hours, by the end of which you can feel mentally and physically exhausted. There may be the added frustration of not understanding
a difficult point, or forgetting something when the teacher has spoken for a long time without a break. Throughout all of this, it is
crucial that you maintain a positive attitude. The act of translation can be extremely meritorious, but as with everything
else, it depends entirely on your motivation. Remember that as a translator
you are a spokesperson for the teachings and be mindful of how you conduct yourself. Task |
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