Dear friends,
I now present to you the plan I have for 2007.
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Pali grammar
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I like to make 2007 "Back to the Basics" year. Our main emphasis shall
be on Pali grammar, as outline below:
(1) The New Pali Course Part I
I am currently working through the exercises myself, and checking my
answers with those Florent had posted to the group. I have provided
the HTML version of the book, so that those who cannot obtain a
hardcopy can still study the book. The HTML version also contains
corrections of minor printing errors I found in the book. In addition,
I am also compiling a study guide as I go through the exercises. This
study guide is a reference based directly on the contents of the book.
It will be an extra tool for anyone who come along later, and decide
to study the book.
Florent's posted solutions are available in the group's archive,
compilations are available here:
http://www.tipitaka.net/pali/palidd/#E
HTML version of the book:
http://www.tipitaka.net/pali/synthesis/pali1.00a.cdv
Study guide:
http://www.tipitaka.net/palicourseguide1.pdf
I am currently going through Exercise 18, and hope to complete the
book in April.
(2) Introduction to Pali (Warder's)
After finishing The New Pali Course 1, I will start on Warder's. It is
the first Pali text I bought about 10 years ago, but have never really
get to it. Due to the sheer volume of the book, I do not intend to go
through it entirely in one run. Again, I will not be posting answers
to the group. Rather, I will be checking answers with those John Kelly
and Alan McClure had posted previously. However, I will post schedules
of my progress so that anyone interested can still read the book
together, and discuss any problems encountered. More details will be
posted in April.
This book is published by PTS and can be purchased online from
http://www.palitext.com/
I also plan to compile an ultimate study guide based on this book,
which will also incorporate information I have gathered from books we
covered previously!
(3) The New Pali Course Part II
Probably, the new materials to be posted to the group this year will
be mainly the solutions for The New Pali Course 2. Florent and I will
be working through the exercises together, and we will share the load
equally. If things go well, we will be able to post the first set of
answers in July.
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Translation exercises
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Although we are spending more time on Pali grammar this year, I hope
to get AN2 translation under way too. Afterall, reading the suttas in
Pali is the ultimate goal for learning the language. I have set aside
a few dates to work on AN2. Although it is just three days, I believe
it is sufficient for the year, given the busy schedule we already
have. The dates are: FEB 17, JUL 7 and NOV 17. These dates are subject
to changes.
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Web resources
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Tipitaka Network will get a few minor changes this year. In
particular, the links page will be renamed bookmarks, and get a
facelift. I also aim to finish reformatting all the Pali texts and
solutions to get in line with the format of Pali Synthesis. The
revamping of the major sections shall be completed this year too.
I hope to compile the definitions of dhamma posted by Nina as soon as
possible. I will generate more word lists for Pali Scope, which will
eventually revive our Pali Word by Word exercises. This is what I will
focus on at the Web end.
I will also go through the message archive to pick up sutta
translations posted by others earlier, and link them from
Tipitaka.net. In addition to listing the Tipitaka's contents, this
will form part of work for Sutta Spectra this year.
With metta,
Yong Peng.