Ep276: Canadian Tulku Translator - Tulku Sherab Dorje

In this episode I am joined by Tulku Sherab Dorje, Buddhist teacher, translator, and author of scholarly and popular books about Tibetan Buddhism.

Tulku Sherdor recounts his unusual childhood and past-life proclivities, his graduation from Columbia Law School and subsequent elite level law practice, and years of spiritual retreat under masters of Tibetan Buddhist lineages.

Tulku Sherdor explores the creative tension between cynicism and devotion, the use of humour in scripture and spiritual teaching, and the importance of reinvesting one’s merit with the inspiration of bodhicitta.

Tulku Sherdor also reflects on what it takes to be an effective translator, whether critical scholarship is a threat to religious faith, and the pros and cons of the tulku system from his position as a recognised reincarnation.

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Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:34 - Why write about one’s spiritual life?
04:48 - Humour and literary conventions of self-diminishment
06:20 - Self promotion and the marketplace of ideas
08:33 - Cynicism, devotion, and humour in relationship with gurus
11:46 - Buddha’s humour in the sutras
13:53 - Tulku Sherdor’s family background and unusual childhood behaviours
15:20 - Jewish diaspora and resonance with the Tibetan diaspora
17:36 Awakening of existential questioning
18:57 -Child psychologist’s advice to Tulku Sherdor
19:54 - Past life explanation and how to invest your merit
24:24 - How to use your freedoms and advantages
25:22 - Tulku Sherdor expresses gladness about his life’s work
26:52 - Are there dedicated practitioners?
27:49 - Tulku Sherdor’s unique combination of successes
28:53 - Benefits of being a well trained lawyer
29:46 - Important writing lessons learned at Columbia Law School and during law career
32:59 - Hypercriticism of other translators
34:00 - Serving the lineage with high standards
35:44 - Praise for Erik Pema Kunsang and Thinley Norbu
38:11 - Advice for writers and translators
41:12 - Dual-language immersion
42:23 - Translator disillusionment and historical perspective
46:46 - Cultural naivety and the published word
48:41 - Is critical scholarship a threat to sacred texts and religious faith?
53:16 - Advice about how to learn Tibetan
55:31 - Pros and cons of training at Harvard University and the Rangjung Yeshe Institute
56:46 - Advice for graduates of elite academic programs
01:00:39 - Sanskrit and Chinese
01:02:33 - The Amazon monster and Tulku Sherdor’s books
01:05:10 - Remembering past lives
01:08:44 - Carrying qualities into your next life
01:09:15 - Tulku Sherdor reflects on his childhood Dharmic tendencies
01:10:55 - Being a tulku
01:14:21 - Tulku Sherdor reflects on the tulku system
01:15:58 - Concluding remarks
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To find our more about Tulku Sherdor, visit:

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

[elisedarchis]

I attended a one-year course on Mipham's commentary on the Guhyagarbha tantra with Tulku Sherdor. He has a lot of patience, and it was great to hear him read passages in Tibetan and explaining them. It was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend the Blazing Wisdom Institute.

[orshaharorna.shahar]

Thank you for the interview and its content. During the last year I translated the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra from English to Hebrew, without any previous translation experience. The interview echoed questions and doubts that arose in me during the work.

[wiwidity]

You don't have to wait long, we are looking forward to a next guest...

[hypnotik]

Wonderful as always. Your doing a great service to the dharma community. Thank you so very much.

[dankdude]

Nice! I received the Longchen Nyingthig ngondro lung from Tulku Sherdor

[weseaton]

Wonderful conversation, I most enjoy the nuance of words and their meaning and context and you both express this in your conversation. I loved how he explained that our understanding changes due to our age and experience as I am a student of kung-fu and all things related to awareness and consciousness and I too have noticed how one's understanding changes through experience and age and how that colors the way we continue our path whatever that may be. 🙏 looking forward to the next conversation, blessings.

[JeffPorterMusic]

I enjoy listening to him. I hope you have another one with him.🤭

[lobsangdhargya]

💞🙏💞Turku Sherap Dorji lha you are true representative of Buddha’s 💞🙏💞 ✌🏽, widow and kindness 💞✌🏽💞 you help generate quality human beings!!! Quantity is not needed🫡🫡🫡🫡 you are our role model and you are very important for our spirit to be good human being 💞😇💞💞🙏💞

[markkennedy]

Superb... great podcast ...great lama

[thezenisnigh]

"Am I tulku? It's not important, but yes I am. But it doesn't mean what you think it means. But it's exactly that. Can I remember my past lives? That's not the point (but let me casually imply I can)." At its best, I suspect 'Buddging' (Buddhist Fudging) inspires. But previous experience makes it a red flag for me.

[paulbail]

Concerning Buddha's humor, he's making the assumption that the Mahayana sutras are the actual words of the Buddha. This is like the naïve view premodern view of Christian Scriptures