Can ChatGPT translate Buddha’s teachings from ancient languages Pali and Sanskrit to more modern languages like English and Chinese with some degree of language proficiency? As you might have guessed, yes, it can.

Here is ChatGPT’s translation of scriptures from the original Pali text of Bahiya Sutta and Kalaka Sutta which I shall include in my comments section. I provided the pali originals of both suttas for gpt4 to translate to English. But is this a 100% original translation? Maybe not, since it is trained on other translations as well. But as it stands, I think, not bad.. BUT please do not rely on these translations for your practice when we have existing good translations online already that are vetted by experts (at least for English, not sure if the existing ones in Chinese are good). This translation attempt is just purely out of my own interest to gauge GPT's language capacity in translation Buddhist texts from ancient languages, and as a FYI post on the current language capacity of GPT4. I cannot guarantee its accuracy (if you spot any mistakes, tell me and I will tell chatgpt to ammend). Admittedly, I did ask ChatGPT to check through the Chinese translation for some passages, but it was able to improve on it to my satisfaction.

Here is GPT 4's translation of Bahiya Sutta from Pali to English:

Udāna 1.10

Bāhiya Sutta

Thus have I heard—once, the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. At that time, Bāhiya Dārucīriya lived at Suppāraka, on the seashore, and was highly esteemed, respected, honored, and revered, receiving robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medical requisites for the sick. While he was in solitude and seclusion, this thought arose in his mind: "Among those in the world who are Arahants or have entered the path of Arahantship, I am one of them."

Then a compassionate, benevolent deity, who knew the thoughts in Bāhiya Dārucīriya's mind, approached him and said: "Bāhiya, you are neither an Arahant nor have you entered the path of Arahantship. You have not even found the way to become an Arahant or enter the path of Arahantship."

"Then, who in this world, with its gods, are Arahants or have entered the path of Arahantship?" "Bāhiya, there is a city named Sāvatthī in the northern region. The Blessed One, an Arahant and a Perfectly Enlightened One, is currently residing there. He is the one who teaches the Dhamma leading to Arahantship."

Upon hearing this from the deity, Bāhiya Dārucīriya was deeply moved and immediately set out from Suppāraka. Traveling overnight, he arrived at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. At that time, many monks were walking in meditation in the open air. Bāhiya Dārucīriya approached them and asked: "Venerable sirs, where is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One now? I wish to see him."

"The Blessed One, Bāhiya, has entered the dwelling for his alms round," they replied.

Bāhiya Dārucīriya then hurriedly left Jeta's Grove, entered Sāvatthī, and saw the Blessed One walking for alms in Sāvatthī, with a serene presence, inspiring confidence, with senses and mind restrained, and displaying mastery over his senses. Upon seeing the Blessed One, Bāhiya approached him, prostrated at his feet, and said: "Please teach me the Dhamma, Venerable Sir; teach me the Dhamma, Sugata, for my long-lasting welfare and happiness."

But the Blessed One replied, "It is not the right time, Bāhiya, for I have entered the dwelling for my alms round."

For a second time, Bāhiya Dārucīriya implored the Blessed One: "It is difficult to know, Venerable Sir, when the life of either the Blessed One or myself might be cut short. Please teach me the Dhamma, Venerable Sir; teach me the Dhamma, Sugata, for my long-lasting welfare and happiness." Yet again, the Blessed One replied, "It is not the right time, Bāhiya, for I have entered the dwelling for my alms round."

For a third time, Bāhiya Dārucīriya beseeched the Blessed One: "Indeed, venerable sir, it is difficult to know when the Blessed One or I may encounter an obstacle to life. Please teach me the Dhamma, O Blessed One, O Well-Gone One, so that it may lead to my long-lasting welfare and happiness."

"Then, Bāhiya, you should train yourself thus: 'In the seen, there will be merely what is seen; in the heard, merely what is heard; in the sensed, merely what is sensed; in the cognized, merely what is cognized.' This is how you should train yourself, Bāhiya. When, for you, in the seen there will be merely what is seen; in the heard, merely what is heard; in the sensed, merely what is sensed; in the cognized, merely what is cognized, then you will not be 'with that.' When you are not 'with that,' then you will not be 'in that.' When you are not 'in that,' then you will be neither here nor beyond nor in between the two. This is the end of suffering."

Upon hearing the brief teaching of the Dhamma from the Blessed One, Bāhiya Dārucīriya's mind was liberated from the taints by non-clinging.

Having given this brief instruction to Bāhiya Dārucīriya, the Blessed One departed. Not long after the Blessed One's departure, Bāhiya Dārucīriya was attacked and killed by a young cow. The Blessed One, having finished his alms round and returned from Savatthi, saw Bāhiya Dārucīriya's dead body and instructed the monks: "Take hold of Bāhiya Dārucīriya's body, monks, place it on a litter, carry it away, and perform the funeral rites. Your fellow practitioner has met his end."

"Yes, venerable sir," the monks replied. They carried out the funeral rites for Bāhiya Dārucīriya and then approached the Blessed One, paid homage, and sat down to one side. Sitting there, they asked the Blessed One about Bāhiya Dārucīriya's fate and future rebirth: "Venerable sir, Bāhiya Dārucīriya's body has been cremated, and his funeral mound has been built. What is his destination, and what is his future course?"

"Wise, monks, was Bāhiya Dārucīriya. He practiced in accordance with the Dhamma, and he did not trouble me with questions about the Dhamma. Bāhiya Dārucīriya has attained final Nibbāna."

Upon knowing this, the Blessed One uttered the following inspired utterance:

"Where water, earth, fire, and wind have no footing,

There the stars do not shine, the sun does not blaze,

The moon does not glow, and darkness is not found.

When a sage, a noble Brahmin, knows this for himself,

Then he is freed from form and formless states,

And from pleasure and pain."

This is the end of the tenth chapter, called "Bāhiya."

This too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard.

The first chapter is called "Bodhi."

GPT4 Bahiya Sutta, Pali into Chinese:��

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尤达那1.10

巴希耶经

我听闻如是—一时，佛陀在舍卫城，祇树给孤独园。当时巴希耶·达鲁奇里在海边的苏帕拉居住，他受到尊敬、尊崇、信任、供养，获得衣物、食物、床铺、疾病护理等需求。巴希耶·达鲁奇里在独处时心中涌现了这样的念头：“世间所有成就阿罗汉或已入阿罗汉道者，我是其中之一。”

这时，一位关心巴希耶·达鲁奇里的古老神祇知道了他的想法，于是前来拜访巴希耶·达鲁奇里，对他说：“巴希耶，你既非阿罗汉，也未入阿罗汉道。你也没有那种修行，能使你成为阿罗汉或入阿罗汉道。”

“那么，世间是否有已成就阿罗汉或已入阿罗汉道者？”巴希耶问道。“有的，巴希耶，在北方有一个名叫舍卫城的城市。如今那里的世尊是一位成就阿罗汉的正等正觉者。世尊所教导的法，就是通往阿罗汉和阿罗汉道的法。”

于是，巴希耶·达鲁奇里受到这位神祇的感动，立即离开苏帕拉。他在一夜之间抵达舍卫城的祇树给孤独园。当时有许多比丘在空地上行禅。巴希耶·达鲁奇里走上前去，询问他们：“尊者们，请问如今那位成就阿罗汉的正等正觉的世尊住在哪里？我们希望亲眼见到他，那位成就阿罗汉的正等正觉的世尊。”“巴希耶，世尊现在进了内室，正在化缘。”

然后，巴希耶·达鲁奇里立即离开祇树给孤独园，进入舍卫城，在那里他看到世尊正在舍卫城化缘，世尊的仪表庄重、祥和，宁静，已经达到了最高的自制和安定，他就像一头大象般驯服且受控。看到这情景，巴希耶走向佛陀，跪在佛陀脚下，恳求道：“师父，请给我讲法；请悉达教我法，使我长久获得幸福安乐。”佛陀对巴希耶说：“现在时机不对，巴希耶。我刚从寺内回来，是为布施而去的。”

巴希耶第二次请求佛陀教法：“世尊，谁知道您或我生命的长短？请给我讲法；请悉达教我法，使我长久获得幸福安乐。”佛陀再次回答：“现在时机不对，巴希耶。我刚从寺内回来，是为布施而去的。”

巴希耶第三次请求佛陀教法：“世尊，谁知道您或我生命的长短？请给我讲法；请悉达教我法，使我长久获得幸福安乐。”

于是，佛陀告诉巴希耶：“巴希耶，你应该这样修行：‘在所见之中，只有所见；在所闻之中，只有所闻；在所感知之中，只有所感知；在所认知之中，只有所认知。因此，巴希耶，你应该这样修行：“在所见之中，只有所见；在所闻之中，只有所闻；在所感知之中，只有所感知；在所认知之中，只有所认知。”就这样，巴希耶，你应该修行。当你在所见之中只是所见，所闻之中只是所闻，所感之中只是所感，所认知之中只是所认知时，巴希耶，你就不会“与那个”在一起。当你不与那个在一起时，巴希耶，你既不在此处，也不在彼处，也不在两者之间。正是这个，仅仅是这个，是痛苦的终结。”

在听闻佛陀简短的法教后，巴希耶的心灵摆脱了烦恼的玷污，因为他没有被执著所困扰。

在给巴希耶简短的教诲后，佛陀便离去。不久，巴希耶达鲁契利耶被一头小母牛袭击致死。如来结束布施回到舍卫城，看到巴希耶达鲁契利耶的尸体，便告诉比丘们：“拿起巴希耶达鲁契利耶的尸体，放在担架上，运走并为他举行葬礼。你们的同修已经去世。”

众比丘听从佛陀的吩咐，把巴希耶达鲁契利耶的尸体放在担架上，运走，并为他举行葬礼。完成后，他们来到佛陀面前，顶礼并就坐在一旁。他们向佛陀询问巴希耶达鲁契利耶的命运和未来轮回：“尊者，巴希耶达鲁契利耶的遗体已被火化，丧葬土丘已建成。他的归宿是什么？他的未来道路如何？”

“比丘们，巴希耶达鲁契利耶是明智的。他依照法行修，他没有向我询问有关法的问题。巴希耶达鲁契利耶已经达到涅槃。”

得知此事后，佛陀发表了以下感悟之语：

“在水、土、火、风无立足之处，

那里星辰不闪烁，太阳不炽热，

月亮不发光，黑暗也无法找到。

当一位智者，一位崇高的婆罗门，亲自了解到这个，

那么他就从色与无色的境界中解脱，

从快乐与痛苦中解脱。”

这是第十章“巴希耶”的结尾。

这也是如来所说，我如此听闻。

第一章名为“菩提”。

概要：

三菩提，尼格罗达树，长老迦叶，

阿夏树

GPT4 Translation of Kalaka Sutta, Pali to English:

Anguttara Nikaya 4.24

3. Uruvelavagga

Kalaka Sutta

Once, the Blessed One was dwelling in Saketa, at the Kalaka Grove. There, the Blessed One addressed the monks, "Monks."

"Venerable sir," the monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said:

"Monks, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by the world with its gods, Mara, and Brahma, with its people including ascetics and brahmins, gods, and humans, I know that.

Whatever is seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by the world with its gods, Mara, and Brahma, with its people including ascetics and brahmins, gods, and humans, I have directly realized that. That is known to the Tathagata, but the Tathagata does not identify with that.

If, monks, I were to say of something that I do not know it, seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by the world with its gods, Mara, and Brahma, with its people including ascetics and brahmins, gods, and humans, that would be a falsehood for me.

If, monks, I were to say of something that I both know and do not know it, seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by the world with its gods, Mara, and Brahma, with its people including ascetics and brahmins, gods, and humans, that would be just the same.

If, monks, I were to say of something that I neither know nor do not know it, seen, heard, sensed, or cognized by the world with its gods, Mara, and Brahma, with its people including ascetics and brahmins, gods, and humans, that would be a fault for me.

Thus, monks, the Tathagata, having seen what is to be seen, does not conceive the seen, the unseen, the to-be-seen, or the seer; having heard what is to be heard, he does not conceive the heard, the unheard, the to-be-heard, or the hearer; having sensed what is to be sensed, he does not conceive the sensed, the unsensed, the to-be-sensed, or the sensor; having cognized what is to be cognized, he does not conceive the cognized, the uncognized, the to-be-cognized, or the cognizer.

Thus, monks, the Tathagata is just such in regard to seen, heard, sensed, and cognized phenomena. 'There is no other 'Such' higher or more sublime.' this I declare.

Whatever is seen, heard, sensed, or grasped, whether true or false in others; he does not grasp at that, nor does he burn with the truth or falsehood in others.

Seeing this arrow in reverse, where people are attached to what they have grasped; I know and see this as it is, there is no grasping for the Tathagatas."

The fourth.

GPT4 Translation of Kalaka Sutta, Pali to Chinese:

增支部 AN 4.24

3. Uruvelavagga

卡拉克阿兰苏塔

有一次，世尊在舍卫国的卡拉克阿兰苏塔。在那里，世尊对比丘说：“比丘们。”

“大德，”比丘们回应世尊。

世尊说：

一切众生世界、天人世界、梵天世界、沙门梵志世界中，所有可见、可闻、可感受、可知的事物，我都了解。

所有我曾充分了解并观察过的事物，如来已经明了，但如来并不设想已知、未知、应知和知者。

如果我说，我不知道这些事物，那将是我说谎。如果我说，我既知道也不知道这些事物，同样也是如此。

如果我说，我既不知道也不不知道这些事物，那将是我的疑虑。

如是，比丘们，如来已见到应见之处，但不设想已见、未见、应见和见者；已听到应听之处，但不设想已听、未听、应听和听者；已感受到应感受之处，但不设想已感受、未感受、应感受和感受者；已认识到应认识之处，但不设想已认识、未认识、应认识和认识者。

如是，比丘们，如来在已见、已闻、已感受、已认识的事物中，始终如一，始终如是。我告诉你：没有其他的“如是”更高或更崇高。

无论看到、听到、感受到的任何事物，或是他人所坚信的真伪；如来对这些事物并无执着，也不因他人的真伪而烦恼。

观察到众生因所执着的观念而受困时，我知道并看到了这个事实：对于如来来说，没有执着。