welcome to Pali Discussion Group. I can see a good beginning as more members are joining us.
Perhaps we can start with a brief intro of ourselves, the reasons and aspirations to learn Pali, and suggestions on what we can conduct in this group to help one another in the learning process.
Let's start with myself. Currently, I am working as an electronics engineer. I have been studying Buddhism for twelve years, however my interest in Pali only started about three years back, when I started to touch on the Tipitaka (in English). However, due to work and study commitments, I did not really develop that interest until last year when I obtained my BSc/Management. So, for the past year, I have been reading up Pali books and have grasped some of the fundamentals. But, I would say there are a lot more to learn, and I have difficulties with many of the excercises in the books. Yes, you are pretty right to think I am stuck somewhere in the books.
My aim of reading the Tipitaka (in English) is to learn from the Buddha directly in the suttas, to get to know Him personally and let Him be my inspiration and model. Learning Pali will allow me to get much closer to the Buddha, by reading directly from Pali sources written about two thousand years ago.
I suggest that we all decide on a book to study and work on it together, with the help of computer technology. For those living close to each other, you may want to meet up occasionally for discussions too. I suggest that we choose one of the following texts:
1. An Elementary Pali Course, Ven. Narada Thera
2. The New Pali Course, Prof. A. P. Buddhadatta, Maha Nayaka Thero
3. Pali Primer, Dr. Lily de Silva
Please contribute your ideas.
Lastly, I hope you will all enjoy the list.
metta,
Yong Peng.
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