84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, a global nonprofit initiative founded by the renowned Bhutanese lama, author, and filmmaker Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, this year has reached a major landmark of 15 years of intensive scholarship, translating and preserving the sacred Tibetan Buddhist Canon and maintaining a unique online portal where these profound teachings may be freely accessed.
Fifteen years ago, 84000 set out on a long and winding path to translate into English—and make freely available to all—all surviving canonical texts preserved in the Classical Tibetan language—a literary archive of immeasurable wisdom that was on the brink of being lost to the world forever. According to 84000, less than 5 per cent of the canon had hitherto been translated into a modern language, and due to the rapid decline in the knowledge of Classical Tibetan and in the number of qualified scholars, the world is in danger of losing an irreplaceable cultural and spiritual wisdom legacy.
This long-term labor of love aims to translate some 70,000 pages of the Kangyur (the translated words of the Buddha) by 2035 and 161,800 pages of the Tengyur (translated commentaries on the teachings) by 2110. Since its founding, the work of the 84000 team has been anchored by five guiding principles: offering and volunteerism; translation accuracy and readability; nurturing and supporting translators; placing equal value on all audiences; and understanding that the project will require perpetual effort.
Marking the occasion, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, 84000’s founding chair, shared words of appreciation for the momentous anniversary.
“No matter what kinds of changes happen in the world, there is always an answer that can be found in the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha,” Rinpoche emphasized. “And I think this is going to be even more and more relevant because modern people like us—and more than us, our next generation—they are challenged by all kinds of challenges: there is the challenge of identity crisis, there is the challenge of sanity crisis.
“This is good news for 84000 because we have the remedy—for everything! Even gardening; parenting, of course; leadership. In every level, the Buddha’s teaching is absolute relevant now, more than ever. So this is why we are very happy that we are celebrating the 15th year of our translating the words of the Buddha.”
Since its inception in 2010,* 84000—named for the number of teachings the historical Buddha is said to have given—has awarded in excess of US$6 million in grants to teams of translators around the world, including Tibetan scholars and Western academics. In just 14 years, with the endorsement of all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, 84000 continues to strive forward, supported by some of the most learned living teachers of the Vajrayana tradition.
In this 15th year of fulfilling a profound aspiration, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha has underscored its commitment to making the entirety of the Kangyur and Tengyur freely available in English so that millions of people may come to know that an authentic written collection of the words of the Buddha exists; and that millions more may be empowered to engage directly with them, supporting the transmission of the authentic Dharma into the 21st century.
Born in Bhutan in 1961, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche is the son of Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and was a close student of the Nyingma master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–91). He is recognized as the third incarnation of the 19th century Tibetan terton Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892), founder of the Khyentse lineage, and the immediate incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959).
In addition to 84000, Rinpoche’s projects include Khyentse Foundation, established in 2001 to promote the Buddha’s teaching and support all traditions of Buddhist study and practice; Siddhartha’s Intent, an international collective of Buddhist groups supporting Rinpoche’s Buddhadharma activities by organizing teachings and retreats, distributing and archiving recorded teachings, and transcribing, editing, and translating manuscripts and practice texts; Lotus Outreach, which directs a range of projects to ensure the education, health, and safety of vulnerable women and children in the developing world; and Lhomon Society, which promotes sustainable development in Bhutan through education.
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UPDATE: 84000 Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to “Bring 10,000-pages of the Buddha’s Words to Life”
84000 Announces that 25 Per Cent of the Tibetan Kangyur Is Now Freely Available in English
UPDATE: 84000 Launches New App, with Insights from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
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