(This info was compiled by Dr.Max Sandor from messages of Asanga Tilakaratne, Ven.Mettavihari, and the INSIGHT-L list information.)

The purpose of this info is to give you an idea why it is useful to learn the Pali language and what the list Pali-Intro-L is all about.

Why Learning Pali?
The Pali Canon or the three 'pitakas' of the Theravada tradition was written in the language Pali, a dialect of Samskrit, which was spoken in Northern India about 2,500 years ago.

This literature is generally known as 'early Buddhism' although there are other versions such as Chinese and Tibetan editions that are sometimes described by that term.

The advantage of the Pali Canon is that it is the only text that has been preserved in its entirety and, also, arguably, it was written in one of the oldest Middle Indian dialects, perhaps closest to the language that the historical Buddha must have used.

Ever since the Pali Text Society (PTS) started publishing the texts of the Pali Canon, the 'Tripitaka', the studies in this language and literature have been popular amongst the students of Buddhism.

In addition to opening up the texts of the Tripitaka, the language also provides access to the vast commentarial and sub-commentarial literature developed and preserved by the Theravada traditions of other countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Campuchia.

It is generally accepted that the teaching of the Buddha in any form (Mahayana, Vajrayana etc.) cannot be meaningfully studied without reference to its Indian background. Therefore a knowledge in Pali will undoubtly be of immense help in understanding the teachings of the Buddha in its original form and in making more sense of its subsequent developments and variations.

Do I have to know Pali to participate?
Certainly not. You are very welcome here, whether you 'know' Pali or not!

You may find that many of the persons writing on this list appear to be Pali 'experts' but this is not necessarily so. Most of the participants are students who try to deepen our knowledge of Pali with the purpose of increasing our knowledge of the Dhamma.

Do I have to be a "Buddhist" to participate?
No. You are welcome here, whether you are a Buddhist or not!

There are people who are Buddhists and have taken up to Pali studies to get closer to the Buddha's Teaching, and there are people who have started to learn Pali for the sake of learning the language itself You are welcome to join us either way!

What are the rules?
Keep discussions friendly and constructive. Avoid idle talk and unnecessary arguments. View this mailing list as an ' opportunity to study Pali and to get thereby closer to the teachings of the Buddha.

If you quote from other sources, please attribute your sources always as complete as you can. When replying to messages, please indicate clearly which message you are replying to.

How do I subscribe to the mailing list?
Send a message to

majordomo@newciv.org

In the body of the message, put the command

subscribe pali-intro-L

How do I cancel my subscription?
Send a message to majordomo@newciv.org. In the body of the message, put the command unsubscribe pali-intro-L

How do I send a message to everyone on the list?
Send your message to:

pali-intro-L@newciv.org

Why do I receive copies of the messages I send to the mailing list?
This is normal. Each message you send to the list is sent to everyone on the list, including you (if your name is on the list). If you *don't* receive a copy within a day or so, then you know something probably went wrong somewhere along the way.

What is a reasonable length for a posting?
A few paragraphs, or a screenful (or maybe two), is usually ample. Please specify the sources of your quotes as complete as possible.

Some subscribers are in remote areas and have to pay for every single kiloByte that they receive over their slow and expensive dial-up lines. In addition, not everybody has the software to successfully decode the attachment.

If you want to share lengthy files, pictures, or sound files, please send them to Max <max@newciv.org>. He will try to make them available on these pages.

Can I post announcements that do not have to do with Pali?
As long as it there is a purpose connected to Pali (for example announcing other Buddhist or Indian language resources), feel free to share your information.

Can I post advertisements of commercial products and services?
Generally not. When in doubt, please consult the list administrator before posting your message <max@newciv.org>.

Can I subscribe to this list in digest form?
A digest will be made available if a need for it should arise.

How do I quote Pali source texts?
Transliteration for Pali texts is found on the Alphabet page.

Whom do I write to if I have more questions?
If you have questions regarding administrative issues, send email to Max at <max@newciv.org>. If you have questions regarding anything else related to the forum or its contents, please send your question to the mailing list itself.

We always welcome your comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism!

mettena cittena,