I understand everyone's point. I recently checked out Wisdom's red
volume (Middle Length) and was disappointed with the translation.
It was watered down. I'd rather struggle with a more word for word
translation. I have not looked at Wisdom's other translations, ie,
Long and Connected discourses.

I happened to picked up a "Disciple" magazine by chance the other
day and realized what someone here mentioned about the different
translations of the Bible. The Kings James Versions are the oldest
and most word for word. I would rather try to figure out the
meaning and how it fits me rather than have someone give me their
meaning. Of course the era of language has to be translated too.
It might be wise to have two translations.

Jesus as a youth was recorded as saying, and in so many words, "In a
particular instance, a sin is not a universal sin, what a sin for
one is not necessarily a sin for another."
I guess this could be the case for translations. The six Paramitas
for instance…Generosity has very different meanings for different
translators. One interprets it as communication: being generous
while communicating with others. How did he get that? Did it make
the most sense for his particular situation? Out of all translations
this one made the most sense for me.

I see why one would want to learn Pali. If I was properly motivated
I would make the attempt to learn the language.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Frank <frank@4...> wrote:
>
> Virupa Arya Thera wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> I would say your best bet is the Pali Text Society as they
have the most comprehensive models available, at discounts of
members too!
> Also, up to date language can be filled with much slang and
inappropriate methods of speaking and structure from an academic
standpoint. Myself being a Buddhist priest, the need for such
language creates an appropriate tone setting of the language and
keeps a foundation of edified translation of the spoken form.
Similar to the use of old and new English in Bible translations,
incredible levels of structure and meaning are lost and immensely
impact one's internalizing the meaning of the words themselves.
> Virupa Arya Thera
> =====================================================
>
> Dear Virupa Arya Thera,
> Coincidentally or ironically (I don't know which yet), I
kind of get the gist of what you're saying above, but I had no idea
based on what you wrote above where you personally stand.
> Are you saying that in your role as Buddhist Priest, you
prefer old English style translations that are inscrutable to modern
readers, or that you prefer new English style translations which
contain some slang but is easier to understand because it serves to
explain some of the incredible structures of the original scriptures
which would have otherwise been lost on modern readers?
>
> -fk
>
>
>
>
> frank@4...
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>