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SADDHARMA PUNSTERS
In the primordial world there is no language
There is no need for translation.
In the manifested world there is the language of onomatopoeia.
In the fully evolved world we have languages of direct expression.
So we stumble, in this way:
The translator says, "What do you mean by Ocean?"
The interpreter says, "I mean ocean."
The translator says, "What do you mean by ocean?"
The interpreter says, "I mean ocean,
Such as Mediterranean, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Antarctic--
On the whole I mean oceanic."
Then the translator says, "What do you mean by oceanic?"
The interpreter says, "I mean ocean-like."
And the translator says, "What do you mean by ocean-like?"
The interpreter says, "I mean salty, waves, divides continents, ships can
sail through."
Then Robin Kornman says, "What do you mean by: Ships can sail through?"
The interpreter says, "Ships are miniature islands where people can stay,
and they commute from one continent to another continent so that dry goods
can be delivered."
Then Larry Mermelstein says, "What do you mean by dry goods?"
The interpreter says, "Dry goods means that they are dry because they are
carried from mainland to mainland in ships without being spoiled by the
water."
Lodro Dorje says, "Ah, that makes sense!"
David Rome says, "There is a grammatical error in this language. Why do we
have to say: Mainland to mainland? Since they have to travel by water,
they are bound to get wet somewhat. Therefore we might say: From off the
mainland on to the mainland. On the whole, if the water is wet, why do we
bother to say wet as opposed to water? But on the other hand if water
means wet, why do we say water instead of saying wet? Why don't we use one
language? Either we should decide to say wet or water."
So the translators go on and the interpreters expound their thing
And one of these days, who's kidding who--
Whether skull means head or head means skull;
And we have confusion about why jackal is coyote or coyote is jackal;
And we have further problems: why worm is snake, and so forth.
Until the philosophy is carried out between translators and interpreters,
We will have to talk about why blue is not black,
Why a round earth,
Why the solar system.
So we end up agreeing with each other,
And the final agreement and conclusion between translators and
interpreters is that the truth of suffering and the truth of prajna have
no synonyms.
Let us be that way;
Let us understand those two,
So we can translate happily with the interpreter,
So we can interpret happily with the translator.
Iris is blue.
Blood is red.
Bone is white.
Marrow is grey.
When we look at the first sun we squint our eyes.
When we touch our finger to fire we go Ouch.
When we pee in the toilet, we assume a serious face.
When we wipe our bottoms, we assume a pragmatic look.
Let us translate that way;
Let us continue that way,
With or without Kornman Mermelstein Dorje Rome,
Happily ever after or sadly.
Let us translate fully.
The truth is:
When you say mind,
The translation is mind,
The interpretation is mind.
Good luck!
30 April 1978
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