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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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