At the time of death when the life review process happens and the signs of kamma appear, do translators of the Dhamma see every individual who benefited from their work?
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Hi,
This appears to be a metaphysical question with no empirical answer. 
AFAIK the suttas do not attest to this.
And if such a thing were to happen to a translator, why wouldn’t everyone see everyone else they benefitted in their life, including the translators?
As we know, the Buddha indicated such questions lead to more papañca, and take the mind away from practicing the Dhamma in the present.
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It would happen to others, but the difference is that translators don’t interact with everyone directly so it may work differently than in standard situations.
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The only detailed account I can recall of the deathbed of a Buddhist translator is that of Xuanzang by his disciple Huili. According to Huili his teacher reported seeing visions of lotus flowers and celestial beings during his final week. But in the absence of an Anuruddha, naturally we have no account of his mind state at the actual moment of death.
See Sally Wriggins’ The Silk Road Journey with Xuanzang, 208ff.
Or Arthur Waley’s The Real Tripitaka, pp. 127-30.
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Thanks for sharing, it fills me with happiness knowing they experience something like that.
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Their translation and these conditions and opportunities and benefit to many - may it be cause and condition for their realising nibanna!
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Thanks.
My point was not that skillful intentions and actions don’t have beneficial effects.
Rather, the post addressed whether a translator would see all those who benefitted.
There’s nothing in the suttas AFAIK that states that beings actually see all those who benefitted from their actions.
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This doesn’t answer your question, but I’d like to share a small note with you—especially if you or someone you know works as a translator.
A long time ago, when Ajahn Brahm was still a young monk, he served as an attendant to a senior monk during a retreat.
During one of the interviews, a retreatant told the senior monk that she wanted to thank him for saving her life. Her words immediately caught Ajahn Brahm’s attention.
She had misunderstood the fifth precept and stopped taking the Valium prescribed for her mental health condition. During the retreat, everything was peaceful, so she managed. But when she returned home, things became difficult. Still, after being off Valium for so many days, she decided to continue living without it and instead relied on the mindfulness and other practices she had learned during the retreat.
Eventually, she freed herself from the medication completely, and her life improved. She was deeply grateful to the senior monk.
At that moment, Ajahn Brahm made a resolution: if he could help even one person in his entire monastic life, he would consider himself successful as a monk.
So if you—or your friend—have translated 84,000 suttas and 84,000 people benefit from your work, remember this: you can already rejoice in your merit if even one person reads just one sutta and tells you it has helped or inspired them.
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That’s a great story, it’s amazing what people can accomplish with the right practice.
I was specifically thinking of monastics such as Bhikku Bhodi, Bhikku Thanissaro, and Bhikku Sujato whose works I have studied, not myself or anyone I know personally.
Reflecting on the question helps with developing sympathetic joy but also with the serenity and mindfulness of the ritual of study - I was thinking about how much more intent would go into the study if I knew they were to see the impact directly during the kamma-nimitta process when I thought to ask the question.
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I believe that those great monks could easily do Cāgānussati and enjoy their merits every time they do so. With a pure heart, they definitely go to a good realm.
As for me, I practice gratitude to them and all my teachers. 
I also practice gratitude to all the laypeople who have supported my teachers.
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