Prof. Sumanapala follows a very simplified version of the Sinhalese monastic school Pali. That's why I recommended
Buddhadatta's "New Pali Course", yes it needs a teacher or a guide. Basically this is the same method used in the Thai
monasteries which I had attended many years back when I was a monk. So I finished 3 years of Pali through Thai (like
learning Greek via Latin). Still my knowledge is very basic. .

Personally I prefer modern Western academic approach to Pali (liker Warder's "Introduction to Pali", the classic but really
needs a teacher). If people like this approach then, "Pali Primer" or "A New Course in Reading Pali" is good. However, I
have yet to see these books. Perhaps we could order them through Evergreen or Awareness Place together.

This is a very significant beginning for Singapore Buddhism where laypeople are serious about Pali. Imagine what this
would be in 10 years' time. Keep up this spiritual investment.

Piya.



Ong Yong Peng wrote:

> 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.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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