The translations compared
Amongst BÔ YIN RÂ ’s spiritual paintings, though not belonging to the Hortus Conclusus, we find the “Temple of Eternity”. – –
The Temple of Eternity reflects the structure and the laws and the hierarchy of eternal life. In all his works BÔ YIN RÂ points man towards this life, teaches him how to achieve this and what his position can be therein.
This Temple, its construction, its working and its illumination, is outlined in the book "More Light" in the chapters "The architects of the cathedral of humanity." (pdf pages 52-89 of The Standard-translation©) and "The secret of the ancient cathedral building works." (pdf pages 224-241 of The Standard-translation©). (Unfortunately this significant book is unavailable in the Authorized / Endorsed translation.)
Man has endeavoured to shape the spiritual in the earthly, thus "The Gothic cathedral is the most perfect image of this hierarchical cosmic order." (More Light, pdf page 70 of The Standard-translation©.)
As the translator makes the words of BÔ YIN RÂ accessible in a different realm just like the cathedral makes spiritual life accessible on earth, the translator works, so to speak, on behalf of BÔ YIN RÂ and the image he creates of the Original German Books should be as perfect as the image of the spirit represented by the Gothic cathedral.
Remarkable are, as example, the following additions as well as omissions:
Original German
*(1) “Alle Sonnen brennen im selben Licht!
*(2) Wer zur Sonne verbrannte, ist mit allen Sonnen vereinigt.–
*(3) Du weißt nicht, welcher Sonnen Licht in meinem Lichte dir leuchtet!
*(4) Ziehe nicht Grenzen der Willkür!
*(5) Im Lichte verschwinden alle willkürlichen Grenzen.–
*(6) Suche das Licht in den Sonnen und die Sonnen in ihrem Licht!
*(7) Liebe ein wenig das Licht in allem Leuchten, – du Suchender!”
Standard translation:
*(1) “All suns burn in the same light!
*(2) Whoever is burned up into sun is united with all suns. –
*(3) You know not which sun’s light enlightens you in my light!
*(4) Do not set arbitrary limits!
*(5) All arbitrary limits vanish in the light. –
*(6) Seek the light in the suns and the suns in their light!
*(7) Love a little the light in all radiance, – you who seek!”
Authorized / Endorsed Translation:
*(1) “The SPIRIT’S suns all all burn within the same primordial light.
*(2) A self whom fire has transformed into a sun is thus made one with all the other suns and their eternal light.
*(3) You do not know the suns whose light my words shed on your path.
*(4) Let not your wilful mind draw arbitrary limits!
*(5) All imagined limits vanish in the Spirit’s light.
*(6) Seek the light embodied in the suns, and in that light search for the suns themselves!
*(7) As a seeker after truth, behold with love, at least a little, the light you see reflected in all radiance.”
All these frills guide the reader merely along the lines of the comprehension of the translator instead of providing a clear and clean translation of BÔ YIN RÂ for the reader to base himself on.
