The Dzogchen Tantra Translation Project
A brief description of the texts on which Choegyal Namkhai Norbu, Rinpoche, Adriano Clemente, Jim Valby and Elio Guarisco have worked up to now in the Ka-ter Translation Project.The Marvelous Primordial State
Tibetan title: byang chub sems rmad du byung ba
Sanskrit title: bodhicittasopashika
Folios 82
Status: translation in progress.
Translators: Adriano Clemente, Jim Valby, Elio Guarisco
The Marvelous Primordial state is a very important Dzogchen tantra of the Semde series. The style and the tantra’s way of treatment of the subjects, random and at times highly cryptic with almost no use of Buddhist technical terminology, suggests that this could as well be the oldest of all the extant Dzogchen Tantras. It is found in different versions as translated by different masters in the various editions of the tantras of the Nyingma. Eight different versions of this tantra are being consulted in the process of translation:
• three versions found in the mtshams brag edition of the Nyingma tantras, the first translated by Vimalamitra and Jnanakumara, the second by Shri Singha and Vairochana, the third bearing no name of the translators;
• one version of the Vairo edition of the Nyingma tantras, translated by Shri Singha and Vairochana;
• three versions from the mkhyen brtse editions of the Nyingma tantras, the first translated by Sri Singha and Vairochana, the second by Vimalamitra and Jnanakumara and, the third bearing no names of the translators;
• one form the Derge edition of the Nyingma tantras, translated by Shri Singha and Vairochana.
This tantra is written mostly in prose, comprises forty chapters of various length, including an introductory chapter explaining the setting for the teaching of the tantra. The subjects of the various chapters vary, including the primordial state, the fundamental nature of everything, liberation; Body Voice and Mind; conduct, the secret mandala of bliss, meditation, the path, the view, accomplishment without seeking, pledges, amendment, lights, samsara, five Buddha families, the purity of everything, nirvana, the motive, the disciples of this teaching and, the instructions. However, no matter how many subjects are dealt with, these are always explained as one’s own primordial state and what is emphasized is that there is not a single thing which is not one’s own primordial state.
The suggestion to translate this tantra came from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, and the appearance of its translation in a western language will certainly be an unprecedented event connecting us with one of the most authentic and very ancient sources of the Dzogchen teaching. It will furthermore set the guidelines for future translation of this kind of literature which for the most is still unexplored.
Sky-like Vast Space Tantra of the Great Perfection (of) the Primordial State
Tibetan title: byang chub kyi sems rdzogs pa chen po mkha’ mnyam klong gi rgyal po zhes bya ba
Sanskrit title: bodhicitta mahasandhi khasame alankara tantra raja na ma
Folios 164
Status: translation in progress
Translators: Adriano Clemente, Jim Valby, Elio Guarisco
This Tantra of Semde was suggested for translation by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu at his own special preference.
It is a text composed in verses of short lines and comprising 26 chapters. Its style and language suggest a text whose appearance is latter than the Marvelous Primordial State, however its special treatment of various subjects makes it a wonderful and very deep tantra. Its subjects include self-originated wisdom, the vast space of the mind, nothing to train in, no birth and no death, nothing to search and nowhere to travel, the total quality, the pledges etc. All these are revealed as the vast space itself of one’s own primordial state. Because of its direct, deep way of introducing the view, meditation and conduct, the translation of this tantra will be an unprecedented possibility to access the very source of the present Dzogchen teaching.
On Birth, Life and Death
Tibetan title: skye zhing ‘tsho la ‘chi ba
Tibetan pages 161
author Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
translated from Tibetan by Elio Guarisco
Status: published in English by Shang Shung Editions, 2006
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu wrote a text entitled Nascere e Vivere in conjunction with the International Congress of Tibetan Medicine held in Venice, Italy, in 1983. Taking this text as a base and driven by new needs he added another section on death and modified somewhat the two preceding sections completing the book in November 2001 at Tashigar Norte (Isla Margarita, Venezuela), one of the seats of the Dzogchen Community in South America.
In the general introduction to this book the Author presents the basic principles of traditional Tibetan medicine that help to grasp some of the points discussed later. In the first section on birth, the Author touches on numerous related topics, ranging from the causes of conception of life in the womb to the behaviour that the pregnant woman should follow. In the second section on life Chögyal Namkhai Norbu starts with an explanation of the so-called ‘three doors’ of body, voice and mind and explains how to live in good health. He presents the causes leading to humoural imbalances that provoke the arising of illnesses, the properties of foods and drinks, various types of behaviour to be followed in different circumstances, and so forth. These topics are largely taken from the context of traditional Tibetan medicine.
However in the last part of this section, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu stresses the importance of maintaining a continuous stream of presence and awareness throughout all aspects of our life. He underlines this principle as the very basis on which we can live in good health and happily and also as qualities that practitioners of Dzogpa Chenpo must definitely possess. The Author expresses the need to diminish our selfishness and worries, and to be content with our lot. Then he introduces the system of Dzogpa Chenpo by distinguishing mind and its nature. He explains that the nature of mind is known in Ati Dzogpa Chenpo terminology as ‘self-perfected primordial potentiality’, and describes its three qualities of empty essence, clear nature and uninterrupted potentiality, according to the ancient texts of this system, using the example of a mirror and the images appearing in it. He introduces the state of instant presence, the principle of Ati Dzogpa Chenpo and how to approach and follow this system in the correct way beyond any idea of accepting and rejecting with regard to our condition.
The section on death deals with the nature of death and our attitude toward it, but most of the discussion deals with the four types of intermediate state: the intermediate state between birth and death, the intermediate state of the moment of dying, the intermediate state of the real condition of existence, and the intermediate state of becoming. For each intermediate state, the Author outlines the essential instruction that enables a person to attain liberation.
Overall the book is an unprecedented, masterful, wise and compassionate attempt to show that the principle of presence and awareness should govern all circumstances of our life, and is also the same principle that underlines the Dzogpa Chenpo teachings and practice.
A Concise Practice of Moxibustion
The Clear Crystal Mirror
Tibetan title: me gtsa’i lag len nyung bsdus dwangs shel me long
Tibetan pages 200
author Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Translator: Elio Guarisco
Status: translation in progress
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu researched the practice of moxibustion as applied traditional Tibetan medicines for many years. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu is still working on a large book, containing more then three thousand moxibustion points and their indications. This text is an essential manual or summary of that large book. It contains the description of a total of five hundred moxibustion points taken from various sources such as the Conclusive Tantra of Medicine and other authoritative treatises of Shang Shung and Tibet. Starting with the manner of preparation of the Artemisia, this book outlines the practice of moxibustion in detail, dealing with illnesses for which moxibustion is indicated and not indicated, advice on which dates and times to shun moxibustion therapy in connection to the position of the protective energy of the individual, various types of moxibustion points and the way to find them on the body. The author explain the various techniques used in the application of moxibustion, their benefits and a detailed explanation of five hundred moxibustion points with their specific therapeutical indications. Needless to say, beside revealing interesting aspects of an ancient culture and an ancient medicine, this is the most complete and extensive book on the practice of moxibustion that has ever been translated in a western language.
The Dzogchen Community is in need of good and qualified translators. In this Training, offered by the Shang Shung Institute Austria, everybody can receive a real base, afterwards the translators have to go on by themselves. If you feel that you are already qualified to take part in this Training you are very welcome. This year the Training will take place in Merigar from 21st of June until 28th of July 2006.
If you are interested please contact us. You will have to do a written test - translating two Tibetan pages into English - and if you pass the test you can take part. The Training is free of costs, all expenses are covered by the Shang Shung Institute Austria. In certain cases you even might receive a scholarship.
For further information please visit our website or feel free to contact us.
Oliver F. Leick
Shang-Shung Institute Austria
E-Mail: office@ssi-austria.at
Web: www.ssi-austria.at
Donations to the Kater Translation projects can be made directly through Shang Shung Austria. For a tax-deduction, donations, restricted donations may be made to the Shang Shung Institute USA.
