The Ka-ter Translation Project
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES for 2009:
PUBLICATIONS
A very important, successful and intense year for the Ka-ter Translation project, 2009 has seen three outstanding books published in English in the Ka-ter series by Shang Shung Edizioni:
- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: BIRTH, LIFE and DEATH according to Tibetan Medicine and the Dzogchen Teachings, original translation from Tibetan in English by Elio Guarisco.
- Chögyal Namkhai Norbu: Longchenpa's ADVICE from the HEART, commentary by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, Longchenpa text translated by Elio Guarisco.
- Kathog Situ Chökyi Gyatso: TOGDEN SHAKYA SHRI. The Life and Liberation of a Tibetan Yogin, translated from the Tibetan and annotated by Elio Guarisco.
Also published by Shang Shung Edizioni in 2009, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s The LIGHT of KAILASH. A History of Zhang Zhung and Tibet, an innovative and profound study of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Tibet, translated from the Tibetan by Donatella Rossi, was an absolute milestone for the Shang Shung Institute. Its production was also an outstanding example of excellent collaboration among all people involved in the translation and publication of that latest book of Rinpoche.
TRANSLATORS and their TRANSLATIONS
Elio Guarisco:
Forthcoming Books by Shang Shung Edizioni
1) The NYINGTHIG YANGTI, a Chanchub Dorje terma, an annotated transcription of a retreat given by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in Australia in 2009.
2) The MEJUNG TANTRA and its preface by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, translated in collaboration with Adriano Clemente and Jim Valby.
3) KYEDZOG, EASING the BEGINNER’S WAY: the ESSENTIAL POINTS of CREATION and COMPLETION, by Jamgon Kongtrul, translated and annotated.
4), An EXPLANATION of the MEDIUM and LONG THUN and The GANAPUJA, coordination of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s teachings.
Elio’s work in 2010 will be dedicated
1) to the revision of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s book on Moxa and its preparation for publication, with the collaboration of Susan Schwarz;
2) to the editing of the Osel Nangcha teaching of Paltrul Rinpoche, the subject of a retreat given by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 2007 at Merigar, an annotated translation from the Tibetan in collaboration with Oriol Aguilar;
3) to completing the revision and preparing the Mejung Tantra for publication;
4) to completion of the translation of the Rdo rje lus kyi sbas bshad, The Vajra Body, of Gyalwa Yangonpa;
5) to a new edition in English of the Bardo Thodrol, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, translated into Italian from Tibetan by Giacomella Orofino and Enrico dell’ Angelo in the 1980s;
6) to a prepublication assessment of a new enlarged edition of a book on Tara including the Twenty-one Praises, coordinated by Julia Lawless;
7) to a prepublication assessment of the Advice of Dorje Lingpa, subject of a Chögyal Namkhai Norbu retreat, transcribed and edited by Nina Robinson.
Adriano Clemente:
Forthcoming Books by Shang Shung Edizioni
1) RAINBOW BODY. The Life and Realization of Togden Ugyen Tendzin, the biography of the uncle of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu; translation from the Tibetan with extensive historical research on the footnotes of this book.
2) The VAJRA DANCE BOOK, with precise translation of the steps of the three Dances, reviewed with the principal Dance instructors.
3) RMAD DU BYUNG BA, revision and editing of the translation, together with Elio Guarisco.
4) Collaboration with Enrico Dell'Angelo on The BIOGRAPHY of JAMYANG
KHYENTSE CHOKYI WANGCHUG.
5) Collaboration with Enzo Terzano on The GOMADEVI THUN BOOK.
Adriano’s work in 2010 will be dedicated
1) to completion of The Book on the Vajra Dance: the sections devoted to the dreams related to the history of the Vajra Dance,
2) to completion of The Book of Divination with Dice of Dorje Yudronma,
3) to completion of Atiyoga: the Essence of All Teachings, a book containing most of the tawah or point of view sections of Santi Maha Sangha, levels One and Two,
4) to completion of the Bepai Gumchung - The Small Hidden Collection of Buddhagupta.
Jim Valby:
Jim has worked on Chogyal Namkhai Norbu's ka dag khregs chod kyi dgongs pa gsal bshad klong chen 'od gsal, which is his commentary on his own terma named klong chen 'od gsal mkha' 'gro'i snying thig las ka dag khregs chod kyi man ngag.
Fabian Sanders:
Fabian is completing ”The Book of the Gompa of Merigar”.
Jim and Fabian in the immediate future will dedicate themselves to the completion of the above mentioned works.
TRAINING FOR TRANSLATORS FROM TIBETAN
In summer 2009 the Seventh Annual Training for Translators from Tibetan of a one month duration was successfully held in Merigar taught by Fabian Sanders.
In 2010 one week courses will be offered in various European cities, and the Eighth Annual Training session will be held again in summer at Merigar.
FINANCES
As you perhaps know, the Ka-ter project and the “Complete Works” is financed exclusively by donation. I want to take the opportunity to thank all donors from the bottom of my heart for their far-sighted generosity – thank you so much and many TASHI DELEGS. Without your support we could not do this important work, essential for the preservation of the teachings for future generations.
From the 1st of January until the 15th of November of this year, the Shang Shung Institute has spent more than 61.000 Euro for the translating and editing of unique texts in the English language, as well as in the training of future translators, the instruments that will allow many to have access to these marvelous teachings.
This year we did not receive the total sum of funds needed to realize our goals, and therefore we want to invite you with special urgency to participate in these precious projects and to support this activity of benefit to all beings. Only with your generosity can we guarantee precise translations of the teachings of Rinpoche and other great Dzogchen masters, and offer the possibility to interested and talented people to study the Tibetan language and become qualified translators from the Tibetan.
There are so many marvels we are dedicated to revealing, but we need your kind help to do so!
You can send your donation via bank-transfer
Name of the bank: Raiffeisenbank Ilz
Address: Hauptstr.or the English revision
Address: Hauptstr. 39, 8262 Ilz, Austria
Bank Code: 38151
Account number: 30387 in the name of Shang-Shung Institute Austria.
BIC (= SWIFT): RZSTAT2G151, IBAN: AT19 3815 1000 0003 0387
Or you can make your donation online with your Visa or MasterCard.
Please send us your credit card information either by fax (+43 3386 83218) or by post, or you also can use our web-safe credit card payment site. Important note: never send your credit card information by e-mail.
Thank you so much for your collaboration and support, and our very best wishes,
Oliver Leick
Director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria
Coordinator, the Complete Works of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and Ka-ter Projects