Erik Pema Kunsang's Five Points for Learning Tibetan Translation, from Afar

Learning Tibetan Translation, from Afar

This guideline is for people who do not have access to learning from a live person.

You have already learned the Tibetan alphabet, how to read and you have a small vocabulary. Now, set the dictionaries aside.

1. Listen to a recording of your Tibetan teacher’s voice slowly reading aloud ten pages of Tibetan texts, while you follow along in the written text. It must be something which you have just read the translation of and which you are deeply interested in. Don’t think too much, just listen carefully to each word. Repeat the same next day, before changing to the ten new pages.
2. Now you read aloud, slowly and clearly, the ten pages of Tibetan text. Don’t think too much when you don’t understand. Repeat the same ten pages next day, before changing to the ten new pages.
3. Listen to your Tibetan teacher’s Dharma lecture 20 minutes each day. Then repeat the same 20 minutes, using the pause button, and repeat each sentence loud.
4. Compare already made translations of verses, chants, poetry and aspirations, Tibetan and English side by side. Think about each word and the meaning. Repeat a few times until you understand each line.
5. Sing the verses out loud, slowly, while contemplating the meaning.

And, never forget the bodhichitta attitude.

For those of you who can and will, study with a living teacher, of course, for example the translator training at Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal.

Warm wishes, Erik