One language, many scripts; Sri Lanka

In reply to Bhante Nyanatusita,

> Regarding learning scripts: I don't have low expectations of Western
> scholars, but more about myself. The people I know generally don't find
> Sinhala script easy. I think that the remark by Rett...
> is very appropriate ...
> With manuscripts this becomes even more difficult ...

It is generally true that when one is in the early phases of learning a
script there are new difficulties in reading (e.g.) an unfamiliar
typeface/font --and I personally have trouble whenever I first look at a new
MS, as I adjust to the peculiarities of the handwriting.  However, this is
true even of one's native language to a limited extent (not even my father
can read my mother's handwriting, but I seem to able to...); I am very much
opposed to attributing these difficulties to S.E.A. scripts as some kind of
peculiar or extreme example of such pedagogical hurdles.

Specifically re: low expectations of western scholars, consider how the
minimum expectations of a Western specialist in (e.g.) Korean or Japanese
Buddhism would involve learning three different writing systems, and gaining
the ability to instantly recognise many thousands of characters (some
alphabetic, some syllabic, some idiographical).  Learning five Pali scripts
is still far fewer characters than just learning the basic vocabulary for
modern simplified Chinese!  And, of course, Chinese MS and modern Chinese
penmanship involve all the same difficulties encountered in other languages
(incl. Pali).

I do think that expectations of Western scholars of Pali & Sanskrit are
lower than other disciplines in East Asian Studies; they are also lower than
scholarly expectations in Eurocentric disciplines of comparative religion. 
That is a subjective impression, but it is based on some degree of
experience.

Basically: what is the good of reading Pali if you can't read an inscription
or a MS?  Although Rett's suggestion (that audio recording may allow us to
return to an illiterate era of a purely oral trasmission of the Tipitaka) is
amusing, the main business of Western scholarship is wrestling with the
words left on the palm leaf, on the page, and on the walls of the cave. 
Nobody can pretend that Western scholars have their forte in the oral
tradition; although I think a few westerners have collected their bronze
medal in Yangon for memorizing a Nikaya or two.

> Although Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, the way the Sinhalese drive
> on the narrow roads (which have hardly changed since the British left
> here) is very reckless and there are many traffic accidents.

I will take this warning to heart; however, I have been riding my bicycle on
the streets of the Lao P.D.R. for six months, so I am somewhat accustomed to
chaotic traffic conditions.

> If you like I can send you a digital copy of Ven.
> S. Dhammika's forthcoming book called ``Sacred Island'' which gives a
> lot of useful info about the sacred places, etc. I am living in Kandy
> and you are welcome to drop in.

Thank you very much for both invitations --I would appreciate both the book
and the visit.  Although I have studied the history of Sri Lanka, I will be
quite clueless as to where I should go once I arrive there (and this book
may help?).  Hopefully Dr. McDaniel will also give me some instructions as
to how to navigate the university campus to find the relevant professors.

E.M.

--
A saying of the Buddha from http://metta.lk/
View Streaming Dhamma Video http://dharmavahini.tv/
Pleasant is virtue (continued) until old age. Pleasant is steadfast
confidence. Pleasant is the attainment of wisdom. Pleasant is it to do no
evil.
Random Dhammapada Verse 333