On Feb 25th, the English Translation Team held its first workshop for the new volunteers. This marks the first official training program for volunteers who have embarked on a journey of translating Ven. Sunim’s Dharma talks into English. The team has also recently conducted its very first training program for translation reviewers. The translation workshop for the new volunteers was a testament to the impressive progress of the English Translation Team during the last couple of years. Among the participants were Kang Ji-eun, Kim Bo-ram, Kim So-jeong, Yang Eun-hee, Lee Hae-ri, and Choi Yoon-young.
Following are the comments of the new translation volunteers from a survey they participated in.
Q1) What made you join the translation team?
“The facilitator of the Dharma meeting I attended recommended that I volunteer.”
I resolved to volunteer as a part of practice and I have been thinking about spreading Dharma to non-Koreans as I live abroad. So when I was offered the opportunity to join the translation team, I accepted right away.”
“When I was reading the English content of Jungto Society, I learned that there are many Junto practitioners who are working hard to help spread the Buddha’s teachings through the English language. So, I wanted to volunteer and contribute to the effort.”
“I became complacent after graduating from the Jungto Buddhism Course last year. To better myself, I decided to volunteer for the Translation team, which required me to listen carefully to Sunim’s Dharma talks and convey the meaning into English.”
“When I first learned about Jungto Society, I was very impressed with how many Jungto members were engaged in volunteer work. While I was searching for what I could do, I found out that English translators were in demand, so I applied to volunteer.”
Q2) What do you hope to achieve through volunteering?
“ I’ve been wanting to share Sunim’s Dharma talks with my non-Korean friends. By joining the translation team, I hope to contribute to spreading the Buddha’s teachings to English speakers, including my friends.”
“ I want to realize the “Mosaic Buddha” as a tiny puzzle piece among the many practitioners who together form the image of the Buddha spreading the Dharma. I hope that my efforts have a butterfly effect of spreading the Buddha’s teachings to the entire world.”
“I volunteered for the Translation Team because I wanted to learn. By listening to many Dharma talks by Sunim, I would like to fully understand his words of wisdom and convey the meaning into English.”
“I have become lighthearted by listening to Sunim’s Dharma talks, so I want to help others become lighthearted through my translation volunteer work.”
“I sincerely hope that my volunteer work can help more non-Koreans listen to Sunim’s Dharma talks and attain happiness through practice.”
Thank you for your response. Again, we would like to welcome everyone!
