Dear Mahinda and Nina,

thank you. I have slightly different views. For us, as a group, we started out elementary books, modern texts in English. Now, we have compiled complete solutions for several of such texts. We are now taking the next step, to study classical Pali grammar. To do that, we will need more assistance, and more knowledgeable contributors like yourselves, and more time for a classical grammar text requires more effort.

I recall that earlier this year, we agree to complete one chapter of Saddaniti, and then we switch to Balavatara. Of course, at my current pace, it may take "forever" to finish this first chapter of Saddaniti. I agree that Saddaniti is tough. However, I did say it will be a monthly post from me. As an amateur group and as our first classical text, albeit a difficult one, I find that it is good baby steps, small but important.

Our experience tells us that capability and functionality limits us to only one classical text at a time, at least at this initial stage. It will get overwhelming and messy if we start having multiple threads on the classics, as we had with multiple sutta translations. However, Mahinda, I share your concern, and thanks for raising them. I agree with Nina that we do not find your posts imposing.

I also agree that Balavatara is a slightly easier text than Saddaniti, and more appropriate for us now. Besides, I am sure you can provide better translations and explanations. I am happy to suspend Saddaniti, and let you start postings on Balavatara. Please let us know of your plans. Thank you.

metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Nina van Gorkom wrote:

> (In connection with another project, I have started translating the Baalaavataara; but I do not want to impose myself here and offer to post my translation to this group. Moreover, studying two of this kind of texts is just unthinkable .)

-----
N: Oh no, you do not impose yourself, never. I think we could learn if you could just post in small parts the Baalaavataara. It will not be too heavy on you if we just read and do not discuss, I think. Once people start asking questions you would have to answer it would be heavy for you.

You wrote: <I think however, things might have been less intricate had we first gone through that text and become familiar with the idiom. Or, doing a systematic study of any commentary could have helped, since the exegetical vocabulary is somewhat akin to the grammatical. >

Yes, what to do now? There is a problem here.
Thank you for your remarks, which are, as always, helpful.