From: Dhammanando Bhikkhu
Message: 7945
Date: 2005-06-14
> Now that you've explained your name and background, IReally? I'm afraid I've completely forgotten about it, but I'm
> believe you were one of the people who originally encouraged
> me to take up Pali many years ago. For that, I am thankful,
> even if you've forgotten the exchange.
> My worry is that it would be a shame to lose members whoMy own concern would be more about the loss of posters whose
> might leave in disappointment if certain topics were banned.
> But it would also be a shame to lose members who are
> saddened by the harsh, dogmatic accusations which have
> appeared here recently.
> Demands for sectarian conformity belong on some other list,I agree, but would add that the same might be said of
> but not this one, at least in my experience of the usual
> open and friendly climate here.
> All 3 views expressed so far have their merits, but I haveYes, that might happen even if my proposal were to be
> to say I'm skeptical that narrowing the range of topics
> would solve the real problem, since some pali issues are
> inherently linked with very heated and passionate clinging.
> For example, on a thread discussing the etymology and usage
> of jhana, we could stay completely on topic and within the
> charter of pali list and have a repeat of the recent
> scenario.
> Designing a bullet proof charter and narrowing the topicSorry, but I'm unfamiliar with Bush's act and don't
> range would be like Bush's "no child left behind act" which
> is ostensibly to protect rights of all kids but in practice
> cators to kids with disciplinary problems at the cost of
> slowing down and boring the rest of the class.
> Although Ven. Dhammanando's suggestions for a tightening ofPoint taken. And I agree with your solution that decisive
> the charter are attractive in some respects as there are
> plenty of places where doctrinal arguments happily rage, I
> rather agree with Frank that this wouldn't necessarily solve
> the problem.
>
> I was subjected to personal attacks, or flaming, on this
> list for suggesting that there might be corruption &
> interpolation in the canon, which is a subject well within
> the new remit.
> I am preliminarily positive to the proposal. Especially theQuite so. Though as the moderator has not discouraged
> change from "Tipitaka translation theory and practice" to
> "Translation theory and practice as applicable to Pali
> texts" - I don't see any principal reason why post-canonical
> texts should be excluded.
> Especially since you don't necessarily have to be a BuddhistIndeed.
> to study Pali; some might be interested for purely scholarly
> reasons, and they must also be welcome to a list of this
> kind.
> The topics of discussion on this list have, by and large, inWhich nobody has disputed. The subject of this thread,
> fact been concerned with issues and subjects to do with Pali
> and Buddhism;
> the problem is not the content, but the manner of theIn practice the content is a major determinant of the manner
> discussion.
> We come to this list for interesting discussions on dhamma,I would have to exclude myself from your "we". I came to the
> pali, and related issues,
> and many of us know how difficult it is to find a communityThat is not the case, bhante. It is only the issue of Pali
> of people who understand and care about these issues.
> We should cherish what we have, because we might not knowYes, Big Yellow Taxi, 1970. I'm just old enough to remember
> how much it means until it's gone.
> In my opinion this list, due to the high-quality moderationPrivet! Glad to hear from you again, I had missed your
> and organization, has gained good reputation and popularity.
> However this popularity has led to the overload of the list,
> and the quality has markedly fallen.
>
> Due to this overload I unsubscribed from receiving messages
> to my mailbox, and just read selected messages on-line.
> As I see, there are several distinctly different areas ofYes, it could well be that a panoply of Pali lists catering
> discussion, which should receive appropriate attention at
> different mailing lists, interaction of which will provide
> dynamically developing Pali environment:
>
> 1. Yahoo group for primary learning of Pali language, with
> regular postings from Pali textbooks.
>
> 2. Yahoo group for advanced study of Pali language and
> literature, with voluminous quotations from Pali Canon.
> 3. Topical forum for the discussion of Pali terms. At theI intend that to be a sub-topic on my translators' list. In
> mailing list like this the insightful postings about the
> meaning of important terms tend to get lost in the archives.
> However at the well-moderated forum the opinions about the
> meaning of particular term can be accurately accumulated and
> preserved in topical thread for many years, forming a unique
> spectrum of qualified opinions.
> I have an experience of maintaining such Russian forum
> dedicated to Pali terms. It proved to be quite useful.
> Topical threads are very easy to find and refer to, and the
> new opinions are easily added.