Give life to Bilara

The Watercooler
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We haven’t reached out for a fundraising email in over a year since we successfully concluded the SuttaCentrral Publications project.
Thanks to your support, the project is now complete and the Sutta Pitaka mentioned in our previous email is now accessible at https://suttacentral.net/editions?lang=si

This time, we would like to bring your attention to Bilara, a remarkable technology developed by SuttaCentral. Bilara is a Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) web application specifically designed for translating suttas. It has garnered immense popularity, with volunteers across the world utilizing it in over 20 languages.

However, Bilara is currently in dire need of an upgrade. There are significant enhancements that must be implemented to transform Bilara into the fully-featured CAT tool we envision.

Given the scale of this project, we require specialist assistance from an external service provider. The estimated cost for this upgrade is US$60,000.00. Further details regarding the project can be provided upon request.

While we do have some funds allocated, additional help is essential to make this upgrade a reality. This email serves as an earnest appeal for your support in making this crucial upgrade for Bilara.

Your contribution will play a vital role in making this upgrade possible and empowering SuttaCentral. Without additional support, we may not be able to meet the necessary requirements for this project.

We genuinely appreciate your consideration and support in helping us to enliven Bilara and further our mission. Your generosity will have a significant impact on the accessibility and effectiveness of this invaluable tool.

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Hello @Deepika,

Thank you so much for this post and for the appeal. To support the project, should one donate through the Donation page, or is there another specific path?
Moreover, I would be interested to know what the upgrade would entail and if there is already a roadmap?

Kind regards, Noé

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I think the roadmap is here: Bilara upgrade roadmap · Issue #2403 · suttacentral/bilara-data · GitHub

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Fantastic, thank you @sabbamitta. I should spend a little more time in Github so I would be a little more informed and bother you less :slight_smile: :pray:

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You don’t bother me. :grinning:

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Thank you, you are always so helpful!

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Please include information on how to donate in the original post. This is too important for folks to have to research on their own how to do it.

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Below are the There are fundamental improvements that need to be made to bring it up to the fully-featured CAT that we envisage.

  • Proofing: currently Bilara has no means of supporting the proofreading of translations
  • Features: add a range of features to assist translators
  • Maintaining: make it easier to maintain and develop
  • Expanding: make it easier to support new projects

As always donations link is : SuttaCentral

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Thanks, Snowbird, it’s fixed now.

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SC donation page is way to go, thanks.

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I think this is extremely important and should be a great help to translators. My understanding is that this would allow proofreaders to make inline comments (or even corrections?) to translations. I believe that currently that has to be done manually. I made a small app that allows translators to share unpublished translations, but what is really needed is an efficient way for people to leave comments.

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That is correct.

The thing with bilara, we got a bunch of stuff right, but some architectural decisions were not ideal, making further development problematic. So this is very much, do it again the right way.

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We are still passionately looking for support to keep this mission alive.

Bilara is not just a piece of software; it’s a movement towards enhancing the understanding and accessibility of ancient wisdom. Bilara is making significant strides in preserving and translating precious texts from various cultures and traditions, allowing these gems of knowledge to shine bright in the modern world.

We all know that meaningful projects need support to truly flourish. By backing Bilara, you’re not only contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage but also helping enlighten countless curious minds around the globe. Every dollar, every share, every mention counts—your involvement is key to making Bilara’s vision a reality.

How You Can Make a Difference

  1. Spread the Word: Share this message with your friends, family, colleagues, and social networks. Let’s create a ripple effect of support and enthusiasm!
  2. Donate: Your contributions, big or small, can make an enormous impact. Visit [Bilara’s Official Website] to learn more about their initiatives and how you can donate.
  3. Connect: Follow Bilara on social media to stay updated on their progress and share their posts to widen their reach.

Let’s come together and make a lasting impact through Bilara. The world is in need of the timeless wisdom these texts offer, and your support can help bring that to light. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!

If you are in the US please consider sending your donations to our USD account, as we are invoiced in USD both parties can save on not having to exchange.
Please email me to find out the details.

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Where can people find your email address?

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It’s on the SuttaCentral “donations” page:

suttacentraldevelopmenttrust@gmail.com

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Dear Friends,

I hope this is not an inappropriate place to share this. I apologize in advance if it is.

I am dedicating a donation to the SuttaCentral’s Bilara project today in loving memory of my late father, Atila Ismet. His unanticipated passing occurred last Friday, the 25th of August, 2023, when he was 72 years old.

My father began his spiritual journey following the Tibetan tradition and the Kagyu school in his mid-thirties. He initially resided at the Karma Ling Institute in the French Alps, now known as Buddha University, where I had the opportunity to visit him multiple times during my childhood.

Later, he played a pivotal role in establishing and managing the Kagyu Samten Tchö Ling centre in Lausanne, Switzerland. Intriguingly, the centre operated from his own apartment, where I had various intermittent stays. This period introduced me to an array of fascinating individuals and teachings.

As an architect, my father devoted himself wholeheartedly to the project of constructing the temple of Montchardon, also named Karma Migyur Ling, in the southeast of France. To fully commit to this endeavor, he relocated to the project site, sparking my growing interest in Dharma during my numerous visits.

In the early 2000s, my father opted to permanently relocate to France to remain close to Montchardon and the various Buddhist circles in the vicinity. Alongside his spiritual pursuits, he nurtured his passion for art and music. Besides working independently as an architect, he participated in as well as organized numerous artistic and musical events.

He planned to revisit Mirik in India, intending to attend a seminary with my brother. Recently, he revealed his intentions to design and build his dream house, drawing inspiration from Japanese architecture.

Beyond his commitment and dedication to Buddhist practices and values, my father also played an import part in the jazz community, another one of his profound passions. He established the acclaimed Jazz club, the Kebra, in Lausanne in the early 1980s, which became a venue of performance for many internationally acclaimed musicians. Additionally, he curated numerous concerts under the banner of the ArtPêche association, hosting these cultural events not only at his residence but also at alternate venues in Romans-sur-Isère.

His main practice was the Chenrezig (Avalokiteśvara) meditation, which is a visualization practice where one uses Chenrezig as a guide to develop sincere and profound compassion for all sentient beings.

OM MANI PADME HUM

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May your father be happy and free! :balloon:

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That is so moving, he sounds like quite the guy. May he find Nibbana swiftly! :pray:

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Thank you Bhante :pray:

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Cher Noé,

J’ai fait un don à Suttacentral en l’honneur de ton père. Qu’il atteigne rapidement Nibbana!

J’aimerais aussi donner du temps pour traduire ce qu’il reste à traduire du site le cas échéant, merci de me laisser savoir. Je n’ai malheurement pas eu de nouvelles de M. Wijayaratna, je crois qu’il faut faire une croix là-dessus. Je me suis mis au Pali à pas d’escargot, on s’en reparle dans une décennie. :slight_smile:

Cordialement,

Julien

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