Re: To Nyanatusita, 1. MS research in Sri Lanka, 2. Duroiselle's Grammar

Dear Eisel,

Thanks.


>
>   (1) Bhante, I've just spoken to David Wharton (again) concerning the
> possibility of our forming a "team" of specialists in mainland
> manuscripts to visit Sri Lanka, and make a study of Khmer, Thai,
> Burmese, Arakanese and other non-Sinhalese MS that are scattered
> around the island.  Wharton and Koret are very interested, and they
> are now talking to Dr. Dr. Harald Hundius about his joining such a
> project in some capacity.
>        This project would begin a minimum of 3 years into the future
> --possibly 5 years into the future --but I think it would be the
> perfect solution to the problem that you posed in your draft paper
> about un-catalogued "mainland" MS in Sri Lanka.  The big advantage of
> having these men on the project would be that they could read
> colophons in the old vernacular and Pseudo-Pali mixed with the
> vernacular --and, of course, if there are any real vernacular MS (such
> as historical/va'ngsa lit.?) that were sent by kings along with the
> Pali, they would be invaluable.
>        In any case, my ceaseless advertising for this possibility is
> now raising some interest, and it seems that a team of at least two or
> three scholars could secure funding for a mixed project of MS survey,
> digitization, etc., doubtless including the collection at the
> Maha-Mula temple, etc.


I am pleased that you advertise this important matter and that it might
eventually lead to a concrete project. I doubt that there would be
vernacular MS in SL, but I remember having seen vernacular colophons and
footnotes. If I am still around by the time, I would be happy to assist by
way of arranging access to temples, etc. I have some pictures of Khom MSS in
Sri Lanka that we could send them as examples.



   (2) Pursuant to issue #1, Bhante, did you complete the draft article
> on mainland MS in Sri Lanka?  The digital copy I have says "Do not
> distribute wihtout permission ... incomplete", etc.; if the essay has
> been advanced or completed, it would be advisable for me to share some
> part of it with some of these other "mainland" scholars.


I shall send you the article again when I am back in Kandy begin next month.
The article is not finished,  because it would entail visiting temples, etc.
At the moment I have no time for that as I am busy with the BPS and lack the
necessary support. It would be better to send the article completely to the
scholars, rather than in part.


> > It would be good if you would write a separate, detailed essay or book
> on
> > the effects of Anglo and French colonialism, the Vietnam war, and
> Communism,
> > etc, on Pali Buddhism in Ceylon and Burma and SE Asia. You seem to be
> keen
> > to draw attention to these terrible happenings in introductions to Pali
> > grammars, but a more appropriate place would be a separate work.
>
> I think this is a fair point, but I do disagree with it.  In the
> instance of my introduction to Mason's book, I decided to agree with
> you, and removed the historical information to an appendix, as you
> complained that it was exceedingly political.  In this case, I think
> it is a brief and salient point, that does not require an entire book
> to explain, nor does it even merit an appendix.  If I were writing an
> introduction to a book on the Aboriginal Languages of Australia
> (written in the same period) would it be so strange to make a passing
> mention of the politics of the period?  Only because of the trappings
> of Buddhism as an eremitic religion are mentions of political context
> of this kind so feared; but this is not a "Buddhist" book --it is a
> secular work, written by a Christian missionary, who was teaching at a
> colonial college.  And, I think, the political context here helps to
> explain something about the origin and nature of the work.



Yes. I agree, however I did not intend this is in a negative way. An article
or book on this period would be important and useful and you would be the
right person to write it. I am not aware of anything that comprehensively
deals with this particular subject.

Best wishes,
                        Bh. Nyanatusita


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