Re: update

Hi Rett,

> I just realized that I'm not sure what the status was of Senart
> (which includes a commentary, tho I'm not sure which one). I've got
> it, though I've been swamped by another project and won't be able to
> get seriously into Pali Vyakarana until the Fall. Is there a need
for
> photocopies?

I don't think there's any pressing need for a photocopy of Senart's
book at the present time. When I go to Toronto later this summer, I
plan to visit the U of Toronto library to look at some of the Pali
grammatical texts there including Senart's which I might be able to
photocopy in part. I only have one printed copy of the
Kaccaayanavyaakara.na (in Burmese script) and two etext versions which
are full of errors. It would be good to get more printed copies in
other editions and scripts over the next while. The commentary in
Senart's book might be the vutti and payoga explanations of the
suttas.

That's fine with me if you won't be able to get into Pali Vyakarana
until the fall and good luck with your other project. I don't expect
that this subject, unpopular as it is, to get much attention in the
early stages. It's something that has interested me for a long time
but I had never gotten around to studying it in a more serious and
systematic way until now. I'll just continue to plod along slowly
regardless of the level of list participation. Comments, suggestions,
and contributions from list members will always be welcome and
appreciated.

> >Another name for the Nyaasa text is Mukhamattadiipanii. Does anyone
> >know off-hand what the meaning of 'mukhamatta-' might be here?
>
> Just guessing, but I wonder if it might mean 'introductory' i.e.
> merely the front, beginning? Otherwise, my first guess was like the
> Tina Turner song 'Simply the Best'.

Thank-you, that helps. I was thinking along the lines of
'introductory' too with 'entrance' or 'opening'. Peter Masefield
translates 'mukhamattaka.m' as 'merely as an introduction' (Udaana
Commentary, Vol. I, p. 338). At Vism XVII.182, there is the expression
'mukhamattappakaasana.m' which ~Naa.namoli translates as 'a statement
of the bare headings'. Perhaps in the context of Kaccayana's grammar
the bare headings might refer to the terse grammatical suttas or rules
only. If that's the case then a translation of Mukhamattadiipanii
could be 'An Elucidation of the Bare Headings'.

Best wishes,
Jim