--- Frank Kuan <fcckuan@...> likhi:

> from [majjhima 139], one of the aspects of right
> speech is that we should not insist on using local
> language, and that principle extends to not
> insisting
> on using theravada buddhist terms.

It is practical, when adressing an Internet discussion
group, to stick to the language(s) known by all
members of that group, and to explain when using terms
from other languages. In this group, these languages
are Pali and English; you can't take for granted that
the group members understand a certain third language,
such as Chinese.

It is also a fact that when a word is imported from
one language to another, its meaning tends to become
more restricted. What's interesting to this group,
when you use a term existing both in English and
Chinese, is its meaning in English.

> "anyone can write a great book...": If you look at
> the
> context of how I use that phrase, you'd see that the
> point I'm trying to make is that someone can sound
> like a enlightened being based on the eloquence and
> sophistication of their writing, yet have no more
> dhamma realizations than the average buddhist.

Yes, someone - but not anyone. Even a charlatan needs
skill (although not a wholesome one). Or as some
Sinhalese friends of mine use to say: Any idiot can
speak the truth, but it takes a genius to lie
consistently.

(Excuse me for being pedantic about details of
language; but this is, after all, that kind of list.
And even if a raft is to be abandoned after crossing,
is should preferably be well constructed when the
crossing is started.)

In the dhamma,

Gunnar


=====
gunnargallmo@...

Höstrusk och grå moln - köp en resa till solen på Yahoo! Resor på adressen http://se.docs.yahoo.com/travel/index.html