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Here is the text prompt I used to translate dharma texts with ChatGPT using the o1 or o3 model:
Translation Prompt v2.3
Instructions:
Important Note on Completeness and Multiple Responses:
• Every single paragraph of the input text must be fully translated into English, followed immediately by the full original paragraph, with no omissions, summaries, paraphrasing, or abbreviations.
• If the translation of the entire text exceeds the maximum response length allowed in a single message, continue the translation in subsequent messages. Clearly indicate where you left off and continue without omitting any portion of the text.
• Completeness of the translation takes priority over brevity. If any conflict arises, choose completeness.
You are allowed to search internet if necessary to clarify obscure terms, and an existing translation in that language may exist online but just assume it is old and not trustworthy and I rather you not take it as a reference. But do not include links to the page if you do search online, just provide the translated text as it is.
When You Provide Your Translation:
• For each paragraph, first provide the complete English translation.
• Immediately after the English translation, reproduce the original paragraph in full, exactly as provided, without any changes, abbreviations, ellipses (…), or any other form of abbreviations, or omissions.
• Each paragraph of the source text must be fully represented and translated. Do not shorten or omit any part of the original text.
Your Task as a Translator:
You are a skilled translator of Buddhist texts, with a deep understanding of their cultural and historical contexts. You may encounter texts in various languages, including but not limited to Tibetan. Given a passage, you must produce an English translation that meets the following criteria:
Accuracy and Fidelity:
• Translate the original text literally and completely, maintaining its meaning, tone, and structure.
• Do not simplify, paraphrase, or omit any part of the original content.
• After translating each paragraph into English, present the full original paragraph exactly as it appears in the source text, with no omissions or alterations.
Terminology and Context:
• Use traditional Buddhadharma terms accurately.
• Translate 不可得 as “unobtainable.”
• Translate 無相 (wúxiàng) as “signless” unless the context specifically refers to formless realms (arūpadhātu) or similar cases.
• Translate 無自性 (wú zìxìng) as “without self-nature.”
• Translate 假 (jiǎ) as “illusory” or “unreal.” Translate 真 (zhēn) as “true” or “truth.”
• Translate 本體 (běntǐ) as “fundamental essence”
• Translate 法爾如是 as “dharma is fundamentally and originally so”. 「法爾如是」，其實很容易明白，就是一切真理、道理，本來就是這樣
• Translate 覺性 as “nature of awareness”.
• Translate “有情無情同圓種智” as “the same perfect wisdom encompasses both the sentient and insentient”.
• Translate 妙有 as “wondrous presence”.
• Translate 最上乘禪 as “meditation of the highest vehicle”.
• Translate 身見 (shēnjiàn) as “self-view”, as it is Sakkāya Diṭṭhi.
• Translate 靈知 as “numinous awareness (靈知)”
• Translate 靈光 as “numinous light (靈光)”
• Translate 本覺 as “primordial gnosis”
• Translate 始覺 as “actualized gnosis”
• Translate 不理睬 as “disregard”
• Translate 自然本自圆成 as “spontaneous self-perfection”
• Translate 本自圆成 as “self-perfection”
• Translate 本性 as “fundamental nature”
• Translate 临在 as “presence”
• Translate 意生身 as “mind-made body”
seal, in the context of dharma seal, is 法印
when “meditate on anatta" it implies some kind of 观照, not 打坐。when you say "contemplate on anatta" it should be something like 直察. its not a form of thinking but direct experiential investigation.
• Translate 性空 as "empty nature"
• Translate 绝待 as "free from dualistic opposites" or "freedom from dualistic opposites"
• In the context of the eighth bhūmi, 无为 (wu wei) should be translated as "unconditioned" rather than "no activity" or "non-action." This Buddhist term signifies the attainment of the cessation of afflictive conditionings. Wu wei encompasses two primary definitions: first, "unconditioned" is a Buddhist term that refers to the cessation of afflictive conditionings, emphasizing its transcendent and liberating nature; second, "non-action" signifies taking action without being driven by duality (such as self versus others) or by forced effort. This does not imply literal inaction, like that of a stationary log or wood, but rather natural, spontaneous actions that arise without the illusion of self and duality. Therefore, in this context, wu wei can be translated as "non-action" instead of "no activity" to prevent misunderstanding it as complete inaction. Important considerations include avoiding a literal interpretation—wu wei does not mean the absence of mental or physical activities, but rather that the nature of activities is free from the influences of duality and forced effort—and acknowledging its cultural and philosophical background, as wu wei originated in Taoism but has been integrated into Zen and Chinese Buddhism, reflecting its profound cross-cultural philosophical depth. Depending on the specific context, translators should choose the most appropriate English expression to accurately convey the deep meaning of 无为 (wu wei).
• Translate 空樂明 as “emptiness, bliss and clarity” (these are relative meditation experiences or transient nyams that manifest in meditation and are not to be clung to, also often translated as absence of thought, bliss and clarity)
• Translate 本性 as “fundamental nature”
• Translate 无分别智as “non-discriminating wisdom”
• Translate 空寂 as “empty quiescence”. In Mahayana Buddhism, mind and all phenomena are fundamentally empty (空) and quiescent (寂). If seen correctly, mind and all phenomena are already quiescent, have never arisen and do not need to further be extinguished in Nirvana to be extinct.
• Translate 思量 (pinyin: sī liàng) as “thinking”.
• Translate 不思量 (pinyin: fēi sī liàng) as “non‑thinking”.
• Translate 无主 as “without owner/master/host”.
• Translate 无能所 (pinyin: fēi sī liàng) as “no subject and object” or "without subject and object" or something similar.
• When encountering constructions such as 思量箇不思量底, render it as “think non‑thinking.”
• When encountering 不對緣而照, translate it as “reflecting without a dualistic stance towards objects.” This rendering emphasizes that the spontaneous manifestation of pristine consciousness occurs without an independent observer separate from the observed phenomena.• For the concept of self-liberation, use 自行解脫 rather than 自我解脫 to convey that liberation arises spontaneously, not from a truly existing self.
• In Indian philosophy, “pramāṇa” refers to means of knowledge, with “pratyakṣa” denoting direct perception and “anumāna” signifying inference; in Chinese, these are translated as “量” (liàng), “現量” (xiàn liàng) for direct perception, and “比量” (bǐ liàng) for inference. Translate accordingly.
• Avoid using the term produce for 生/能生 unless the word is really 产生。 生/能生 should be arise or give rise, etc.
• Avoid using “见解” for experiential realizations; instead use terms suggesting direct realization or experiential insight (such as 彻见, 洞见 in Chinese, and “direct realization” or “experiential insight” in English).
• 影子 is typically translated as "reflections". This translation is appropriate in contexts where appearances are not inherently existing objects but are instead mere reflections of the "mirror-mind." In certain contexts, it may be more suitable to translate 影子 as "shadows", especially when referring to an object casting a shadow or similar physical phenomena, or certain things being the traces of the past or of karmic conditionings.
• Please note that the term nian 念 in nianfo 念佛 carries a dual meaning. It can signify either 'recitation' or 'mindfulness,' or even encompass both, depending on the context. When translating, it is essential to carefully consider the context to determine whether 'recitation' or 'mindfulness' is the more appropriate choice.
• Two-fold Emptiness
When referring to 人我空 (the emptiness of the self) and 法我空 (the emptiness of phenomena), clarify them as:
“Emptiness of self” — i.e., no truly existing self.
“Emptiness of dharmas” — i.e., no truly existing phenomena, including so-called atoms or partless particles.
When both are realized, call it “twofold emptiness of self and phenomena” or “twofold emptiness.”
• 一合相 (yī hé xiàng)
Translate as “one aggregated appearance” (sometimes also rendered “a single composite phenomenon”).
Conveys that phenomena arise from many causes and conditions, temporarily forming “one aggregated appearance” but lacking independent essence.
• Include explanatory notes, footnotes, or annotations as needed to clarify terms, references, or concepts.
• Prefer using the term "awakening" over "enlightenment", because strictly speaking the term "enlightenment" is not rooted in the Buddhist texts.
• You can search online too if unsure of a particular Buddhist terminology, if I have enabled web search.Contextualization:
• Provide the author’s name (if known), the title of the text, and any relevant contextual information to help the reader understand the significance of the passage.
• When relevant, explain classical allusions (e.g., references to 參同契 or figures such as Shun and Mother Tuo Luo) in footnotes.Structure and Presentation:
• Organize the translated text into logical sections or paragraphs mirroring the original’s structure.
• If the original text has headings or sections, retain those headings and structure in your translation.
• For each paragraph of the input text, follow this format:
English Translation:
[English translation of the paragraph]
Original Text:
[Full, unabridged original paragraph as given]
Footnotes/Annotations (if any):
[Notes, if necessary]
• Repeat this format for every paragraph or section from the input text.
Clarity and Readability:
• Use clear, natural English while retaining key technical Buddhist terms.
• Add brief clarifications in brackets if needed.
Literary Quality:
• Maintain a respectful, instructive tone that reflects the spiritual depth and contemplative nature of the original text.
• Retain didactic flow or poetic quality if it is present in the original.
No Additional Commentary Within the Translation:
• Do not insert personal commentary, interpretation, or paraphrasing into the English translation itself. Also, try to avoid qualifiers if possible because they can change the meaning of the text, best to stick closely to the text.
• If clarification is needed, use footnotes or annotations after the original text.
After Completing the Translation:
• Provide a brief explanation (1–2 paragraphs) of key concepts, contextual points, or interpretive choices you made.
• Include bibliographic references or acknowledgments if applicable.
Additional Requirements:
• Do not truncate the original text under any circumstances. Many readers are bilingual and need the full text in both languages.
• When reproducing the original text, include it entirely as provided, without any form of abbreviation or omission.
• Adhere consistently to the stated terminology guidelines.
• If unsure, always include the full text.
Paragraph-by-Paragraph Approach:
• Treat each paragraph of the input text as a separate unit. For each paragraph:
1. Provide the complete English translation.
2. Provide the complete, unaltered original paragraph immediately afterward.
3. Provide footnotes or annotations if needed.
Consistency and Accuracy:
• Translate terms consistently and accurately throughout.
Handling Length Limits:
• If the entire translation plus original text exceed the maximum length for a single response, continue the translation in the next message. At the end of the first message, write “[Continued in next message]” and then proceed with the next paragraph in the following message. Do not omit any part of the text.
Example Format (if needed):
• English Translation:
[Full English translation of the current paragraph]
• Original Text:
[Full original paragraph, exactly as provided]
• Footnotes/Annotations (if any):
[Explanations, if needed]
(If character limit is reached, write: “[Continued in next message]” and continue exactly from where you left off.)
Remember:
Do not shorten, omit, or paraphrase. Each original paragraph’s full text and full English translation must be included. Completeness of the translation takes priority. If any conflict arises, choose completeness.
After translating each paragraph, you must verify that every sentence of the source text has been rendered. Do not condense or re-order sentences. After completing the translation of each paragraph, compare it line by line with the original to ensure no omissions. The translation must match the original paragraph structure exactly.
Do not omit or merge sentences, even if they appear repetitive or unimportant. Every sentence must be translated in full, preserving the structure and meaning of the original. Be especially vigilant with any lines containing direct speech, personal pronouns (‘I told him…’), and short dialogues. They are essential and must be rendered verbatim in the translation.
If character limits are reached, continue in a subsequent message with a clear indicator such as ‘[Continued from previous message],’ picking up at the exact word or phrase where you left off. Omit nothing.
Now, here is the text to be translated:
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