Pali language w.r.t. Burma/Myanmar

[Gaudio, Rudolf]

I'm posting this query for a friend (see below). If you have any insights or suggestions, feel free to send them to me or directly to Paula Bock <paula at burmafoundation.org>

Thanks -

Rudi

Rudolf P. Gaudio
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Purchase College, State University of New York
rudolf.gaudio at purchase.edu

_______
I'm writing to get your advice about a possible Pali name for our nonprofit. We do humanitarian work in Burma. Since 1999, we've been partnering with local communities in Burma/Myanmar to improve health care, education and life's essentials for people beyond the reach of conventional aid (www.foundationburma.org). 

We're now in the midst of merging with a like-minded health organization that does terrific work on malaria, TB, reproductive health etc in Burma. 

Because of the merge, we need a new name for the combined organization. Several people have suggested Pali + English names... 
Currently, we're focusing on "Karuna" and "Upaya".  (Karuna Community Partnerships, for example.) 

The name would not be used in Burma/Myanmar, where each organization uses different, Myanmarese names. 

Some have expressed concern that Karuna and Upaya  and Pali are so associated with Buddhism that it would distance us from Christian and Muslim and other religous communities we work with. Others say that Pali predates Buddhism and is the root of many of the dialects used in Burma today and wouldn't be a big deal. 

May I ask your thoughts on this? Would a Pali name be offensive and distancing to non-Buddhists? 

(And if you have flashes of inspiration for a name (Pali or otherwise) , please share!)

Much appreciated!! 


____________________________

Paula Bock
Foundation for the People of Burma
225 Bush Street, Suite 590
San Francisco, CA 94104
206-569-4438 (direct) 
415-217-7015
paula at foundationburma.org
www.foundationburma.org