[ayWCZ7VT]

Well, I personally don't think its that big of a deal if you translate the chant, but the real question is: why are you translating it?

I personally don't like to hear myself so when I chant a mantra I do it silently in my head ... in the original language (Sanskrit, usually). I agree that chanting in the original language is best as it allows me to think of the power of the mantra/chant, not the words themselves. I think translating cheats you out of the power of the words.

Think of it this way. In English we say 'Gesundheit' when somebody sneezes. The point of our saying this is not what we are saying, it's German for 'God Bless You' BTW, but the intention or power behind what we are saying. Or someone saying 'Namaste'. I know there are arguments about how this is translated exactly, but for the most part it's something like 'I Bow to the Light in You'. But the translation isn't the important part. It's the intention behind the word itself.

I think, with chanting a mantra. It's the intention or power behind what we chant, not the actual words themselves, that is most important.
So, I again vote for not translating, but do what's best for you.
Just my 2 cents.

Namaste
Chris