First International Workshop for Buddhism Dictionaries-
the compilation and studies of Critical Pāli Dictionary
On March 1 to 3, 2018, the First International Workshop for Buddhism Dictionaries was jointly hosted by Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional studies, University of Copenhagen, and Buddhism Studies Department, University of Poona, India.
All representative scholars were coming from Hamburger University, School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris, The University of Tokyo, Deccan College, and Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts in Taiwan; they joined altogether so as to explore the better ways of making compilations and studies of Critical Pāli Dictionary, which brings significant benefits to better comprehend and learn Buddhism literature in Pali.
Due to some obstacles Critical Pāli Dictionary publication had encountered, Senior Professor Kenneth Zysk, from University of Copenhagen, together with Professor Mahesh Deokar, the head of Buddhism Studies Department from University of Poona initiated this International Workshop, hoping to assemble resources for editing and studies from global academic organizations, who are working on dictionaries editing in various languages; in order to discuss and find the way to unite and facilitate Cross-Buddhism studies in the field of traditional literatures.
Professor Teng, Wei-Jen, the representative scholar from Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts Taiwan, shared his opinions that as the original literatures were composed of various language versions such as Sankrit, Pali, Tibetan, Mandarin, Mongolia, Gandhāra etc., high quality and quantities of dictionaries editing, first-rated literature competency would be essential for Buddhism literature studies as well as organizing a dictionary. Furthermore, proficiency in setting digital function lies in additional requirement for modern technology needs.
However, even with such high requirements, little significant academic results can be achieved as fast as dissertations or monographs publication; therefore team work spirit became more considerable due to limited personnel resources.
After this three-day workshop, all representatives had reached consensus and made the mutual-agreed cooperation. Further with well-built confidence, more complete Buddhism dictionaries tools could be better prepared to benefit Buddhism literatures learning and studies in the future.
All attending scholars expressed their sincere gratitude and delight that Khyentse Foundation sponsored this workshop, also affirmed and supported fundamental academic works. Hand-in-hand cooperation between academic and religious organizations would be of great beneficial for the transmission of Buddhists lineages as well as for spreading the Dharma, which are also the initial aspiration what Master Sheng Yen, the founder of Dharma Drum, spared no efforts to propagate.
Texts: Prof. Teng, Wei-jen (法鼓文理學院 鄧偉仁教授)
Translation: Huang, Elenda (頤嵐達)
Editor: DDM Australian Editorial Team