Newbie question to setting PYTHONPATH environment var on Linux

[Gert-Jan Dorenbos]

I am trying to use Python 2.1 on Suse Linux, but experience some basic 
problems as I am new to both.

I managed to set the PYTHONPATH to my directory with own modules in the 
~/.bashrc directory. This works fine if I start Python from a shell.

However, when I run Idle this does not work and the interpretor 
apparently does not read the PYTHONPATH variable.

Any suggestions?