Fah Writing Assignment2

1. Overview
1. Problem: Lack of Complete, Online, Searchable Buddhist Canon in English
2. Analysis of the Problem:

                                                    i.     Low Internet Usage in Buddhist Countries

                                                  ii.     Lack of Support from the Related Organizations

1. Solution: Wikipitaka, supported by the increase in the internet usage in Buddhist countries, will complete and unify the whole canon and make it available fro browse and search online.

1. Introducing the Problem
1. Show example of online, searchable sacred texts such as

                                                    i.     The Bible

                                                  ii.     The Qur’an and a more fancy version 

1. Show some available online Buddhist scriptures, Tipitaka, to illustrate that they are incomplete and not searchable

                                                    i.     Burmese Attempt (also a forum)

                                                  ii.     Sri Lankan Attempt

                                                iii.     Thai Attempt 

                                                  v.   Another (most complete) Attempt 

                                                iv.     Other Attempt

1. Analysis of the Problem
1. The available websites are not successful because of

                                                    i.     The low internet usage in the countries

                                                  ii.     Their exclusiveness of the website (the website will not be successful even if the internet usage increases)

1. Also, the existing online canons are not searchable, nor does it break linearity of a conventional (hardcopy) book.
   With the internet technology, online canon should be multidimensional, with the scripture, commentaries, exegeses, interpretations, historical significance, discussion forum, and dictionary layered and linked to one another within one website.

1. Hopeful Prediction
1. According to the constant growth in internet usage and the analysis done by the Thai Government, the country’s internet usage rate will get as high as the US within 10 years (most likely less than that).
2. Resolution of the first problem, yet the other remains! So, we introduce Wikipitaka.

1. Solution: Wikipitaka
1. Another attempt to compile a complete translation of the Tipitaka
2. Long-range approach: allowing search, browse, addition, edition and discussion.
3. Expansive online canon: translations, commentaries, exegeses, interpretations, historical significances, discussions, dictionary, and encyclopedia.
4. Standardized translation: unifying all diverse, confusing translations by linking ambiguous terms to their pali roots in a separate page which belongs to the dictionary section (I will set up another wiki/website separate from this to be the dictionary). Or this can be linked to existing Dictionaries of Buddhism such as Andover-Harvard Library's Dictionary of Buddhism or Stanford-subscribed Encyclopedia of Buddhism.
5. Inclusiveness: by the nature of a wiki, it opens up for people to edit, add, or erase any of the texts. Because of this openness, Wikipedia have more than two billion pages within five years. I believe that this inclusive policy will lead to the success of this compilation.

                                                    i.     Remank from Burmese Tipitaka: Burmese attempt

1. Web Structure
1. The structure of the Tipitaka. The structure of the canon section will be modeled after the Tipitaka.
2. Diagram showing the sitemap and links

1. Implementation
1. Creating the Wiki

                                                    i.     Wikipedia Template

                                                  ii.     Regulations and user manual

1. Some foreground data

                                                    i.     Paste all canon in Romanized Pali onto the webpages

                                                  ii.     Provide all available English translation on the corresponding pages

                                                iii.     Create links to keywords

1. Publication

                                                    i.     In existing Buddhist websites

                                                  ii.     To Buddhist Study Program in universities

                                                iii.     In Thai temples and Buddhist universities

1. Maintenance

                                                    i.     Connection with Thai Monks and Scholars

                                                  ii.     Emerging Wikipitaka community

1. Sustainability: donation through the website

1. Possible Difficulties and Problems
1. Doubtable liability
2. Openness of the text profanes its sacredness
3. Limited publication
4. Lack of monetary support

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