Dear John and friends,

using "Once upon a time" is cool. However, allow me to relate a
personal encounter with a christian friend on the issue of whether
the bible is "just" a story. His answer is 'no' and the reason is 'a
story starts with "once upon a time" but the bible starts with "in
the beginning". Of course, I didn't buy that idea but he sure has a
way of "straightening" things out.

In the case for the suttas, I have fears that using "Once upon a
time" would reduce them to bedtime stories.

It'd be nice if other members can give their opinions, and we can
wrap up this point before you go for your holidays. :-)

Metta
Yong Peng

--- John Kelly wrote:

> Just a whimsical thought on the translation of "eka.m
> samaya.m". I really like "Once upon a time". This is
> a very colloquial English expression used as a rote
> formula in the beginning of most children's stories
> and most oral tradition stories. And what more of an
> oral tradition with rote formulas than the Pali Canon!