>I have been studying Pali for about a year with a monk from Sri Lanka, and I told him that I
>would like to purchase a Pali-English Dictionary for the vihara. He agreed, but I now
>realize that I am unsure as to the "best" one to buy.



> Would anyone have any suggestions??

Yes, buy two :-)

1) _Pali English Dictionary_ (PED) from Pali Text Society. It's not a great dictionary, and wasn't intended to be. It was really just meant as a first draft but it's still the best complete dictionary out there. It's important to think critically and independantly when using it. Don't treat what any dictionary says as the gospel truth.

2) Margaret Cone's _A Dictionary of Pali_, Vol I, also from Pali Text Society. This latter is in the process of replacing the former. It is excellent in every way, a joy to use. Unfortunately, so far it only goes up to kh.

These two together will definitely contribute to the value of any vihara library.

best regards,

/Rett