Triratna’s first Pali symposium

Saturday 15th May saw Triratna's first Pāli Symposium, in Cambridge, UK. Mitra Dr Sarah Clelland reports.

“Jayarava, Dhivan, Śraddhāpa, Jan Osborne and I met in the library of the Cambridge Buddhist Centre to read, translate and discuss two texts - some verses by the bhikkhunī Patācārā from the Therīgāthā, and the Kaccānagotta discourse by the Buddha – as well as investigating the meaning of the Pāli word sutta, which may not after all be the same as the Sanskrit word sūtra. 

As Sangharakshita once wrote, “The ideal method of studying Buddhism would be to read in the original language a number of carefully selected texts belonging to the Pāḷi, Sanskrit, Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian or Japanese canonical Buddhist literature.” Jan, the newest member of the group, echoed him in saying, “Reading Pāli gives me a sense of a connection to the Buddha's teachings that reading in English cannot quite do. There is something magical in this process and it is lovely to share this with others in the sangha.”

The idea for the Symposium grew from a small reading group which met in Cambridge for a year. When Dhivan moved away to Bristol, we started thinking about how to grow our little community and reach out to those living farther afield, both beginners and those who already knew Pāli.  

The Symposium was for those who could already read Pāli, and it was a treat to get together with several published scholars. Dhīvan has an MPhil in Sanskrit and Pali from Cambridge University, and wrote This Being That Becomes: the Buddha’s teaching on Conditionality. Jayarava has studied Pāḷi, Classical Buddhist Chinese and Sanskrit and is currently writing a book on the history of the idea of karma and rebirth in Buddhism. Śraddhāpa has studied Sanskrit, Pali, Buddhist Chinese, and Tibetan, and produced new translations of the Pure Land Sutras for Ratnaguna's book Great Faith, Great Wisdom. As for myself, I'm a mitra living near Cambridge and teach Pāḷi in my spare time.

But we also want to encourage beginners to enter into the word of the Buddha. Jan only began learning Pāli over the last year with Jayarava and me, but she was able to read original texts with us at the Symposium. We would like that opportunity to be there for many more people. Our plans include offering ‘Introduction to Pali' retreats, producing accessible, user-friendly materials for learning Pali, and of course, holding another Pāḷi Symposium next year.  Come and join us!"

(Dhivan is speaking at York University's 'Translating Buddhism' conference, 30th June - 2nd July.)

Email the Triratna Pāḷi Group. 
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Visit the Triratna Pāḷi Group’s website.

Email Sarah Clelland for Pāli lessons/reading groups near Cambridge.
Follow Dhivan’s blog.
Follow Jayarava’s blog.
Visit Jayarava’s mantra website. 
Look at Jayarava’s scholarly writing.
Follow Jayarava on Twitter: @Jayarava
Follow Śraddhāpa on Facebook.