To Dharmavidya on translations - To Nierika

[Guest guest]

Dear Nierika

 

You are absolutely right - Swamiji's translation surely does make

sense, even to me:)

But you know - I am such a doubting Thomas and I always want things

clearly explained to the letter - that's how my mind works. And I am

afraid it won't quit functioning like that. Why should it?

Having faith is a very difficult thing for me and often quite painful,

since I am am convinced that shraddha (faith) is such a gift of grace.

 

And that might be the reason that mantras just don't work for me,

surely not the way you described in your other post to me.

 

I hope though they work on a more subtle level. I think I have to

leave it to God what he/she wants to do with me.

 

Best wishes to you

 

D

 

, nierika@a... wrote:

>

> Dharmavidya wrote:

>

> ...Swamiji's translation appears to me much mellower, gentler. But I do

> wonder the amount of freedom he applied in translating this text. This

> actually seems to be the case with all his translations and I remember

> having put a similar question referring to the Chandi Path.

> The Chamakam: In my text it is a supplication to Rudra for all kinds

> of favours - and again I think this is the original meaning. Swamji

> has transported all these great stuff that is asked for into the inner

> heart of man, as inner qualities. Which again I think is more

> "spiritual", maybe closer to the hidden meaning of the text - but I

> think it's not a translation, or a very free one...

> Dear Dharmavidya ~ it is my belief that both Shree Maa and Swamiji are

> Self-Realized Beings. One only has to read of their lives and

experiences ("Shree

> Maa, The Life of a Saint"; "Sahib Sadhu") re understand this. I wish

I could

> find the text where Swami wrote this, but I cannot. Yet I will

relate it to

> you anyway, and perhaps someone in the group will know which text it

is in.

> Swami calls Sanskrit a living language, and that, through the course

of time,

> new translations of scriptural texts are necessary to keep pace with

the unde

> rstanding that the people of that time may generally have. My trust

in Swamiji

> is total, and the "picture" he presents in the translation of the

Rudri, of

> Shiva as a compassionate reliever of sufferings makes sense to me in

terms of

> all the pictures or statuettes I have seen of Shiva. He appears to

be kind

> and loving, with water coming out of his hair, to wash away our

> misunderstanding and our fears, or he appears as Nataraja, showing

us that this life (and

> beyond) is a cosmic dance. Shiva Ki Jai ~ Linda

>