Bhante,

Nin hao.

I think Ven Analayo's suggestion agrees with many others. For example, Chinese
masters often would comment on the structure of the Chinese character itself in
connection with a Dharma topic. This way, one familiar with Chinese can relate better
to the teaching. However this is only a skillful means pointing to higher things.

I found learning Thai much easier when I was in Thailand (which I did within a year
and completed all the Nak Tham exams without any repeat sitting). Learning Chinese is
a bit more complex, though.

I find learning with pinyin helps in the pronunciation tremendously. But the eye
should after that always be on the character themselves. Google "Pinyin" and you will
get a host of sites. I find the following URLs very helpful:

PINYIN FONTS FOR WINDOWS
www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~chud/font/pinyinfont.html

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PINYIN CONVERSION PROJECT
www.loc.gov/catdir/pinyin/romcover.html

Most useful (succinct info) in learning Chinese for English-speakers is this
download:

BASIC CHINESE VOCABULARY
www.zein.se/patrick/3000char.html

If anyone knows a better website (with all 3000 or more characters listed) please let
me know.

Yes, bhante, I would like to have the DR EYE upgrade.

I'm pasadic to hear of the Chulalongkorn "world Tipitaka" project. Even just a
critical edition of the Pali Canon is a joy in itself. It would be really good if we
have a Pali Canon CD setup like that of the CBETA Chinese Tripitaka (where various
windows open for comparative reading commentaries, etc.)

In Dharma,

Piya

------------------



Bhante Sujato wrote:

> --- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Piya Tan <libris@...> wrote:
> > Bhante & friends,
> >
> > I have used the old style classical Fantizi (mainland China uses
> the
> > simplified Jiantizi). My gut feeling is that the Fantizi might be
> more
> > useful since the Chinese Tripitaka uses it, and modern scholars as
> such
> > would be more familiar with it. However, I am not sure if there
> are greater
> > benefits in using the simplified Jiantizi.
>
> Hello Piya Tan
>
> Great to hear you are finding results already using the Chinese.
>
> I am very far from being an expert, but i understand that basically
> all Buddhist scholarship is done using the traditional characters
> (Fantizi). Ven Analayo strongly recommends using the Dr Eye
> software, which he says makes reading the agamas in
> Chinese 'kindergarten'. There is a specific Buddhist Chinese upgrade
> for this which he has and is sending to me. Do you want it? I can
> find out details for you, though i don't have them to hand. I am
> still working on the Rosetta basic Chinese (ni hao ma?).
>
> I just received an email from the Thai group, associated with
> Culalongkorn Uni, who have completed (but not yet published) the
> first critical edition of the Pali canon. Now they are talking about
> a 'world tipitaka': a full digital architecture for all Buddhist
> scriptures in all languages. Wow! I'll give you more info as i find
> out about it.
>
> in Dhamma
>
> Bhante Sujato
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> [Homepage] http://www.tipitaka.net
> [Send Message] pali@yahoogroups.com
> Paaliga.na - a community for Pali students
> Yahoo! Groups members can set their delivery options to daily digest or web only.
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>