Re: Bhumibalobhikkhu Foundation

--- In palistudy@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Anderson" <jimanderson_on@...>
wrote:
> Dear Amara,
>
> > > This is also what the PTS's PED entry has as well. So your
> dictionary
> > > took it right from there.
> > >
> >
> > I think they mentioned this.  This is probably why the dictionary
> was
> > so much more expensive than the rest of their publications, because
> > they are probably paying for the use of PTS material.  For their own
> > Thai translations there was probably no cost whatever, like for the
> > rest of the books, 'just the cost of the paper' as the octagenarian
> > gentleman told me.  And to think they donate their books to
> > educational institutions, who probably just leave them on the
> shelves.
> >  I think the ones they are donating to the WFB library will be put
> to
> > good use, though.
>
> I think the Foundation is doing some really good work and one I
> wouldn't mind donating some money to. You're probably already aware of
> this -- the PED is available online at the following url:
> http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/ Instead of typing out the
> entire entry from your dictionary as you seem to have done, you could
> save yourself time by copying and pasting it from the website as I
> have done here:
>
> Visesa (p. 641) [fr. vi+sis, cp. Epic Sk. visesa] 1. (mark of)
> distinction, characteristic, discrimination A I.267; S IV.210; J II.9;
> Miln 29; VvA 58, 131; PvA 50, 60. -- 2. elegance, splendour,
> excellence J V.151; DhA I.399. -- 3. distinction, peculiar merit or
> advantage, eminence, excellence, extraordinary state D I.233 (so for
> vivesa all through?); A III.349 (opp. hana); J I.435; VvA 157
> (punna°); PvA 71 (id.), 147 (sukha°). -- 4. difference, variety SnA
> 477, 504; VvA 2; PvA 37, 81, 135 (pl.= items). abl. visesato,
> distinctively, altogether PvA 1, 259. -- 5. specific idea (in
> meditation), attainment J VI.69: see & cp. Brethren 24, n. 1; 110. --
> Cp. pati°.
> nn--adhigama specific attainment A IV.22; M II.96; Nett 92; Miln 412;
> DhA I.100. [Cp. BSk. visesadhigama Divy 174]. --gamin reaching
> distinction, gaining merit A II.185; III.349 sq.; S V.108. --gu
> reaching a higher state or attainment J VI.573. --paccaya ground for
> distinction VvA 20. --bhagiya participating in, or leading to
> distinction or progress (spiritually) D III.272 sq., 277, 282; Nett
> 77; Vism 11, 88 (abstr. °bhagiyata).
>

Dear Jim,

Thank you for this, it is wonderful to know we can have such easy
access to all the detailed explanations.

[I'm also sorry for being slow to reply, I had been away to Krabi, on
the Andaman Sea, for a few days.]


> > > > Together with Saddha wouldn't it mean something like 'detailed
> > > > analysis of words'?  [Although as a book title, 'The Wonder of
> > > Words'
> > > > sounds more magically appealing to me.]
> > >
> > > Interesting but not sure about 'analysis', though 'detail' could
> be a
> > > translation of 'visesa' (differentia).
> >
> >
> > Just a minor point, but practically wouldn't you have to analyse
> > something in order to differentiate them, Jim?
>
> Yes, I think that's probably true. Dhammapaala uses the term
> 'padavibaaga' (analysis of words) and interestingly enough he starts
> out explaining the term as the differentiation or distinction of words
> (padavibhaago ti padaana.m viseso -- Sv-p.t I 43). There's that
> 'visesa' word again!
>
> > I'll try to have them send it off with the rest, and try to remember
> > to note a few things for you.  Unless you would prefer to wait a
> > little longer and discover them for yourself!
>
> > > What is this ANAOABASATU? It doesn't look like a proper Pali
> spelling.
> > > Could you check?
> > >
> >
> > It's ANAPANASATI, sorry about that.  [I am a slow typist especially
> > with all the Paali, which must be my excuse, plus the constant phone
> > calls while I was typing.]
>
> Thanks for the correction, it's all clear now. I believe this book
> contains just the Anapanassatikatha from the Pa.tis text along with
> its corresponding commentary from Pa.tis-a.
>

A bit about your shipment, I took the two volumes of Paali only texts
of the Mahakaccayana set [of 14 books of various sizes, all but the
two with Thai explanations] to add to the BF books today.  The rest I
will keep here for a while in case I could look up in the Thai what
you have post here.  I would like to add that yesterday there was a
little photo session for the lady from NP bringing the WFB library the
large stack of books and telling us a little about the background of
its compilation and translation.  Apparently it took them ten years
and a great deal of funding.


> > I've told the lady to hold everything and wait for your letter,
> which
> > you can also email me to fax to her, if you wish.  Or send it to her
> > by surface mail, of course,
>
> We will get this all sorted out offlist. Thanks for telling us about
> the Bimalobhikkhu Foundation and their wonderful treasure-trove of
> Pali texts. The list of their books and the contact address that you
> have provided will come in handy. When I make up a booklist of Pali
> grammatical texts, I'll be sure to include them. It's great that you
> have established a good connection with the Foundation.
>
> Much appreciated,
> Jim


I'm glad to be of some help,

Amara