So far, only Evelyn, Piya and Dimitry have posted their opinions about the choice of books to use.

This is their preferences:
Evelyn: Pali Primer
Piya: The New Pali Course, or any others
Dimitry: [A New Course in Reading Pali], An Elementary Pali Course, Pali Primer

My humble comments of these books will be

1. The New Pali Course, Prof. A.P. Buddhadatta Maha Nayaka Thero
This book is hard to find in the market, it is designed to be taught by a teacher, almost no sentence examples.

2. An Elementary Pali Course, Ven. Narada Thera
Widely available, examples and notes are given, but rather compact in its contents, designed to be taught by a teacher.
PDF format: BuddhaNet - http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_s.htm
HTML format: TipitakaNet - http://www.tipitaka.net/pali/main.htm

3. Pali Primer, Dr. Lily de Silva
Good explanation and plenty of examples, less compact in its contents, adequate for group-study, available.
US$7.50: Pariyatti - http://www.pariyatti.com/book.phtml?prod_id=14014X
You can also get the book through the publisher VRI or any of their meditation centers:
http://www.vri.dhamma.org/courses/centres.html
As Dimitry mentions, the book is also included on the Dhammagiri Chattha Sangayana CD.
The CD is distributed for free by VRI around the world:
http://www.vri.dhamma.org/publications/tpmain.html

4. A New Course in Reading Pali, James W.Gair and W.S. Karunatillake
Real exposure to Pali passages, adequate for group-study, tough for total-beginners, available.
US$15/Hardcover: Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8120814401/qid%3D/104-4324427-2012730
Paperback also available from Motilal Banarsidass Publishers P/L
ISBN 81-208-1440-X (Paper)
ISBN 81-208-1440-1 (Hardcover)
[Please check with your local bookstore for prices.]

So, my suggestion for the group study will be as such:
1. Pali Primer, Dr. Lily de Silva; followed by
2. A New Course in Reading Pali, James W.Gair and W.S. Karunatillake

metta,
Yong Peng.


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