Students in the Translation Certificate Program at DRBU come from very different backgrounds. Among this year’s students are Ven. Sajal Barua, an ordained Theravāda monk trained in Pāli literature, Li Tao, a retired research scientist originally from China, and Vayu, a designer with a creative background rooted in Zen practice.

Now halfway through the program, they have studied the works of famous translators, different translation theories, and how to structure the process of translating in a group. All the while, they have put theory into practice, translating and discussing both ancient and modern texts.

At this stage, the three students describe a shift in how they see translation. What at first seemed like a mostly technical task has turned out to be a complex and often shared process in which they contribute their different experiences.

As Vayu says: “I have found that translation work is a very creative process. It is creative work and, as such, cannot really be taught. Instead, you must provide a space where a person can explore and understand for themselves how it is they do it. At the same time, the components of the activity can be taught and developed: the critical mind, language comprehension, cultural understanding, and so on.”

From Accuracy to Interpretation

Vayu’s path to the Translation Certificate Program started in Mexico City, when he was trying to compile a small collection of Mahāyāna sūtras in Spanish. Few translations were available in Spanish, his mother tongue. With a certain naïveté, he says, he thought he would do the translation himself. He realized his limits and decided to apply to the translation program to better understand what he was doing.

One formative moment came early in the program. He was editing a Chinese text he felt he had handled well. The translation was technically correct, but in class, the discussion showed that many of his choices were not quite accurate and did not represent the structure of the original. “I learned that you can be correct and still be wrong,” he says.

Vayu’s classmate Li Tao, who spent her career as a research scientist, describes a similar experience from a different angle. She applied to the program as her family responsibilities eased, and she initially understood translation primarily as a rather mechanical, word-for-word transfer of meaning. Through studying translation theory and the work of earlier translators, she realized how things like audience, culture, and subjective choices shape every translation. 

“All of these factors shape both the effectiveness and style of a translation. I used to think of translation simply as transferring a text from one language into another, which is a common misconception,” Li says. “We also learn from well-known translators, both ancient and contemporary, drawing from their insights and experiences. This journey has been truly eye-opening.”

Carrying the Resonance

Ven. Sajal’s background in Theravāda Buddhist literature and contemplative practice deeply shapes the way he approaches translation. “Whenever I read or translate a Buddhist text, I instinctively consider how the teaching speaks to me personally. Also, especially when translating key doctrinal terms and phrases conveying stages or experiences of Buddhist spiritual practice, I become very conscious of capturing the full meaning of these terms and concepts. However, it is a constant struggle for a translator. Sometimes, we choose not to translate those terms, like karma, nirvāna, saṃsāra, prajñā, and pāramitā.”

He explains how the nature of Buddhist teachings is such that, as they unfold through careful study and the process of translation, they often begin to speak directly to us. “In a sense, translation first becomes an inner dialogue, a way of understanding the text for ourselves, before it transforms into something we offer to others,” he says.

Over time, he has come to see that what matters most is not merely rendering the words or terms from the source language, but capturing the spirit or essence of the message being conveyed. When a teaching resonates deeply within him, he trusts that the translation will carry that same resonance to others.

Learning to Translate Together

Despite their different backgrounds, all three emphasize the importance of group translation in the program. Li explains how, in their group translation work, each of the participants begin by independently completing different stages of the process: primary translation, review, and editing. Then, during group editing, they finalize the translation together. 

Li values how this collaborative effort draws on each person’s linguistic strengths, allowing everyone to contribute. This way, space is provided to clarify difficult words and concepts collectively. “Working in a group is far more effective than working individually,” she says. 

Ven. Sajal has come to appreciate how every phrase or sentence can be interpreted and expressed in multiple ways: “Group discussions allow each member to present their understanding, which deepens our grasp of the text and clarifies nuanced meanings. I find this collective approach not only intellectually enriching but also spiritually rewarding, as it encourages shared inquiry, patience, and mutual respect among all participants.”

“It is also a humbling experience,” Li points out, “when I see my work being changed completely, and always for the better. I really enjoy the group translation. I learn a lot from it.”

Both Vayu and Ven. Sajal echo the importance of humility. Ven. Sajal explains how humility helps students recognize that their understanding of a text or teaching is never final. “This openness allows us to genuinely consider other perspectives,” he says. Through thoughtful discussion, the students often discover alternative interpretations that enhance their collective understanding.  

“Equally important is the mutual respect we have for one another’s insights and viewpoints. This spirit of openness and respect enables us to work harmoniously and productively on our translation projects,” Ven. Sajal says.

This spirit seems to create a space where the process of working in a group can be both humbling and rewarding at the same time. As Vayu describes it, this means being with people who are more experienced in the skills required for translation and seeing his own work disassembled and rebuilt, or conversely, discovering that his voice is useful, even when he is no expert in anything. 

Vayu describes instances when, after long discussions and many revisions, the group can step back and feel a shared certainty. He says that those are the moments when they can finally breathe and see that the effort was worthwhile, and that the text itself seems to affirm their work.