Translation work in progress

Here you find a short description of the texts on which 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 StateTibetan 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.

A Concise Practice of MoxibustionThe 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 Secret Description of the Vajra BodyTibetan title: rdo rje lus kyi sbas bshad
Tibetan pages 88
author: Gyalwa Yang Gonpa (1213-1258)
Translator: Elio Guarisco
Status: translation in progress
The Secret Description of the Vajra Body is a text that we used as the textbook for the translator’s training course that took place in July 2006 in Merigar.
It’s author Gyalwa Yang Gonpa (1213-1258) is without doubt one of the most extraordinary yogin that ever appeared in Tibet. Yang Gonpa was affiliated to the Drukpa Kagyu school and was a master who was very expert in the Tantra, Tsalung and Mahamudra.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu often cites the wonderful, concise and most inspiring instructions of meditation by Yang Gonpa in the Dzogchen Semde meditation as set forth in the Santi Maha Sangha book of the First Level.
He was a disciple of Gyalwa Gotsangpa (1189-1258) - one of the three forefathers of the Drukpa Kagyu school; of Kotrakpa (1181-1261) - the first great non sectarian master of Tibet; of Drigung Chen-nga Rinpoche of the Drigung school, of the great Sakya Pandita (1182-1251); of Sangye Repa, and other authentic masters, from whom he received the most profound secret teaching.
His dedication to the practice was so exceptional that he dwelled day and night in a state of contemplation and no ordinary sleep occurred to him. Although, because of previous predispositions, Yang Gonpa did a lot deity yoga, he himself said, that his combined practice of the deity yoga and the path of method, that for him manifested simultaneously, was impossible to conceive by anyone.
His visionary and meditative experiences were inconceivable as well as his capacity to read other people’s mind. His expertise in the practice of inner heat, his knowledge and ability to govern the inner energy-winds, were the door to his matchless realization.
His work, The Secret Description of the Vajra Body is based on his practical knowledge: he was the only Tibetan master who declared that he has had the direct vision of the inner world of our secret body, made up of channels, energy-winds and vital essences.
Because of the specialty of the author, the importance of its content, and its relatedness to traditional medicine, The Secret Description of the Vajra Body has a unique place in the Tibetan literature.
For these reasons we have used it, with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu permission and encouragement in the translator’s training, and for these same reasons we want to make a proper translation of it on the side of the main Ka-ter Translation Project.
This book, once translated can shed light and enrich our knowledge of on the basic elements of our body that are worked on in the Tsalung practices and be of a great aid to our practitioner in our community that wish to apply such practices, as taught by our master.

Easing the Beginner’s Way: The Essential Points of Creation and Completion That Helps the Beginner on the Path
Tibetan title: lam zhugs kyi gang zag las dang po pa la phan pa'i bskyed rdzogs kyi gnad bsdus
Tibetan pages 38
author: Kongtrul
Translator: Elio Guarisco
Status: translation in progress

The text is an advice that Kongtrul, 27 years old at that time, dictated orally to a lama attendant of the Fifteen Karmapa. The text deals with the phase of generation and the phase of completion of the Anuttaratanatras and Mahayoga. It explains these phases with practical advices on meditation. Moreover the text could be said to be the sum of Kongtrul´s experiential understanding of Tantra, Mahamudra and Dzogchen. It thus represents an invaluable advice from one of the greatest figure in the Rime movement. The translation of the text is supplemented with a short biography of Kongtrul´s life story and an introduction to the two phases of tantric practice, generation and completion.