In two years as a Khyentse Foundation grant recipient, John Ning Qiang Wu has made steady progress in translating some of the major works of the Khyentse lineage into Chinese. These works, each over a dozen volumes in Tibetan, include The Transmissions of Khyentse and The Collection of Sadhanas by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and The Treasury of Spiritual Instruction by Jamgön Kongtrul.

Wu, who has a master’s degree in clinical medicine, has been a student of Buddhism for almost 20 years and began studying Tibetan in 1997. Since  2001 he has been translating under the supervision and guidance of Khenpo Phuntshok Namgyal, from whom he receives the necessary wangs and oral transmissions.

Since being awarded his second KF grant in March 2011, Wu has had a busy and productive year, using his skills not only to translate the writings of the two great masters but also the dharma teachings of Khenpo Phuntshok Namgyal for Chinese-speaking students.

Wu reports, “During the past 12 months, I spent almost a month in Qingdao, helping Khenpo to give teachings on Nyingtig Ngöndro and Kaxuema, and I also revised some articles that I translated several years ago. I also spent nearly a month in Zhuhai, Guangdong, teaching some followers how to practice the Lengyanjing (surangama-samadhi-sutra) based on my writing, and the  Ngöndro of Longchen Nyingthig according to the writing of Khenpo. I spent another half month in Beijing helping with Khenpo’s teaching.” In the remaining 10 months, he translated 2,880 pages of The Transmissions of Khyentse by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

In addition to translating, Wu gives instruction on Buddhism via the web several nights a week. All of these important activities are made possible by the support of KF grants. With KF’s continued support, Wu hopes to complete the Chinese translation of The Transmissions of Khyentse, The Collection of Sadhanas, and The Treasury of Spiritual Instruction within seven years.

Photo: John Wu with Khenpo Phuntshok Namgyal